Kolkata : With an eye on the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Friday released its manifesto, centred around “Didi’s 10 pledge”. West Bengal will see a two-phase election on April 23 and April 29, with the counting of results on May 4. At the core of the Trinamool Congress’s manifesto are “Didi’s 10 pledge”, a mix of welfare and development promises.
The party has promised to increase aid under Lakshmir Bhandar by Rs 500, taking monthly support to Rs 1,500 for general category women and Rs 1,700 for SC/ST beneficiaries. It will continue a Rs 1,500 monthly allowance for unemployed youth under Banglar Yuba-Sathi, and roll out a Rs 30,000 crore agriculture budget to support farmers, including the landless farmers. The manifesto also promises pucca house for every family and piped drinking water to all households, along with annual ‘Duare Chikitsa’ camps to deliver healthcare at the doorstep.
The manifesto further promises that the government schools will see infrastructure upgrades, while Bengal will be developed as a trade hub for eastern India with modern logistics and a global trade centre. It further commits to continuing old-age pensions while expanding coverage to more beneficiaries, and proposes administrative changes including the creation of seven new districts and expansion of urban local bodies.
The Chief Minister also raised concerns about a possible delimitation exercise after the elections, warning that it could alter political representation. She, however, expressed confidence that the BJP would not return to power at the Centre, claiming that “people do not like the BJP government”. Banerjee further accused the Centre of weakening public sector units and favouring select industrialists.
Targeting the Election Commission, Banerjee questioned the large-scale transfer of officials ahead of the polls. “There is always a limit to such changes, but this time officers across departments are being shifted. If people don’t get ration, who will they turn to?” she asked, adding that those deployed as observers “do not know the state or its ground realities”.
This is not undeclared anymore. Modi ji has effectively declared President’s Rule in Bengal. They are not saying it openly, but their actions show it,” she said, calling it a “shame”. Banerjee accused the BJP of targeting the state politically. “Bengal has long been their target. They don’t want Bengal to exist as a strong state in this country,” she said.
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