Sops dominate Budget in poll-bound Bengal

West Bengal finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya on Thursday tabled a ₹4.06 lakh-crore interim budget and vote-on-account for the 2026-27 financial year in the state assembly, announcing an increase in monthly allowance for women and frontline workers and launch of ₹1,500 monthly stipend for unemployed youth ahead of the assembly polls due in less than three months.

- HT Correspondent

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee described the interim budget as “pro-people”, while the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) termed it “false and legally impossible to implement”.

The TMC government proposed a ₹500 hike in the monthly allowance under its flagship Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, taking the monthly grant to ₹1,500 for women from general category and to ₹1,700 for SC and ST women. Bhattacharya said the enhanced payments will come into effect from February itself and benefit around 24.2 million women.

The minister also announced the launch of Banglar Yuva Sathi, promising a monthly allowance of ₹1,500 to unemployed youths for a maximum period of five years or until they secure employment. The scheme will come into effect in August this year.

The government also proposed an annual financial assistance of ₹4,000 to landless labourers, to be paid in two equal instalments, Bhattacharya said.