Ballygunge MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, 82, had served as the State Minister of Agriculture and Parliamentary Affairs earlier. File. Photo: X/@SobhandebChatt1.

BJP national president Nitin Nabin said the women of West Bengal had “rejected fear and chose good governance”. 
| Photo Credit: ANI

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary M.A. Baby said the Budget “exposes the blind commitment” of the Modi-led government to a handful of corporate houses. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Kolkata:

The TMC government of West Bengal on Wednesday tabled a Rs 3.89-lakh crore budget for 2025-26, increased dearness allowance (DA) by four per cent state government employees, and focused on rural development, prioritising infrastructure and welfare ahead of next year’s assembly elections.

The government unveiled a series of infrastructure and agricultural development projects in its budget, allocating significant funds for rural connectivity, river erosion control, and agrarian support initiatives.

In the last full-fledged budget of the Mamata Banerjee government before the 2026 Assembly elections, Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya tabled in the assembly a Rs 3.89 lakh crore budget.

In the previous budget, the state saw an allocation of Rs 3.67 lakh crore, marking an 8 per cent increase from the previous year 2023-24.

Bhattacharya announced that the state government would increase the Dearness Allowance (DA) by four per cent from April 1, 2025.

This would bring the total DA to 18 per cent for over 10 lakh state government employees and pensioners.

The move is aimed at addressing ongoing concerns raised by the employees who have been agitating for better compensation.

“With this four per cent increase in DA, we are reaffirming our commitment to the welfare of our employees,” Bhattacharya said, underlining the state’s focus on the well-being of its workforce.

In the budget speech, Bhattacharya said a total of Rs 44,139.65 crore has been allocated for rural development, surpassing allocations for all other sectors in this year’s budget.

Additionally, Rs 13,381.68 crore has been earmarked for the Urban and Municipal Development Department.

In the 294-seat West Bengal Assembly, rural constituencies dominate, with around 170 to 180 seats in rural areas often proving decisive in elections.

Bhattacharya highlighted an increase in funding for multiple rural-centric initiatives, including the road construction scheme ‘Pathashree’ and housing programme ‘Banglar Bari’.

Rs 1,500 crore has been allocated for the Pathashree project in the upcoming fiscal year, while the Bangla’r Bari scheme has seen an increase of Rs 9,600 crore.

This year, 12 lakh families have been provided funds for constructing permanent homes, and another 16 lakh families will benefit from the same assistance in the next fiscal year.

After the budget presentation, Bhattacharya emphasised the integration of rural and urban economies, saying, “Employment opportunities for rural people will be created, which will also nourish the urban economy. We aim to create this synergy.” In a bid to address the persistent issue of river erosion, the government set aside Rs 200 crore, which would provide much-needed relief to vulnerable riverine communities.

Further strengthening its focus on infrastructure, the government sanctioned Rs 500 crore for the construction of a 4.75 km-long bridge over the Ganga river at Gangasagar, which is expected to facilitate smooth access for pilgrims and boost local economies.

For the ‘Ghatal Master Plan’, a mega project to dredge riverbeds and strengthen embankments of at least 10 major rivers in the state, the government has allocated Rs 500 crore this year. The total cost of the project is Rs 1,500 crore.

A new project called ‘Nadi Bandhan’ was announced for river-centric areas in the state. The project has been allocated Rs 200 crore, and it will focus on measures to prevent riverbank erosion.

Bhattacharya announced that 70,000 ASHA workers will be provided with smartphones as part of the budget’s welfare measures.

There was no announcement regarding the ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’, a financial assistance scheme for women, in the budget.

Speaking at a press conference after the budget was presented, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “Lakshmir Bhandar is a popular scheme. Altogether 2.21 crore women benefit from it. The state government spends Rs 50,000 crore on this. Other states, especially the BJP-ruled states, are copying the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme.” She said the state budget has a vision to create employment opportunities.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the budget, BJP lawmakers staged a walkout after the finance minister ended her speech.

They raised slogans against the government, highlighting the difference between the DA given by the central government and the state. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday raised concerns over the stampede in Maha Kumbh, alleging that the authorities in Uttar Pradesh are “not releasing the correct toll”.

Addressing a press conference after the state budget presentation in the West Bengal assembly, Banerjee expressed her frustration over the alleged non-release of the state’s dues by the Centre.

“So many people died in the Maha Kumbh incident, but they are not releasing the correct toll. They have created such hype that a large number of people visited Maha Kumbh but there were no proper arrangements made at the venue.” At least 30 people were killed and 60 others injured in a stampede that broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela last month.

“The Centre has failed to release Bengal’s legitimate dues,” Banerjee claimed, emphasising that the state government has been struggling to receive its rightful funds.

The chief minister also responded to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s comments on Bengal, claiming that these were “biased” and “not based on facts” “Nirmala Sitharaman’s statement against Bengal is biased and not based on facts,” Banerjee claimed.

Sitharaman on Tuesday lashed out at the ruling West Bengal dispensation, alleging that the Trinamool Congress has become a byword for exploitation and the party has institutionalised corruption and gutted institutions.

In her address, Banerjee accused the central government of making empty promises in the union budget.

“The central budget contains only promises. We allocate funds from our own revenue, and what we say in our budget, we deliver,” she stated, highlighting the stark contrast between the state’s approach and the Centre’s alleged unfulfilled commitments.

West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya on Wednesday presented a Rs 3.89-lakh crore budget for 2025-26 with a significant focus on social welfare, and announced a four per cent hike in dearness allowance (DA) for state government employees.

Banerjee emphasised the importance of a strong and vibrant federal structure for the country.

“The country cannot be strong without a strong federal structure,” she asserted, underscoring her belief in the significance of state autonomy and a balanced relationship between the Centre and the states.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

File picture of Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday (February 3, 2025) said funds to railway projects in West Bengal have been increased three times since Mamata Banerjee was in charge of the Ministry of Railways.

“The allocation which was in Mamata Didi’s (Banerjee) time has been increased three times by Modi ji in West Bengal,” Mr. Vaishnaw said, during a web conference on the Railway Budget 2025.

The Minister informed that an allocation of ₹13,955 crores has been provided for West Bengal under Railway Budget 2025. The average annual allocation to West Bengal from 2009 to 2014 was ₹4,380 crore.

Also Read | T.N. allotted ₹6,626 crore to execute railway projects: Vaishnaw

Highlighting that the current investment in West Bengal for Railways in the State stands at ₹68,000 crores, the Minister requested the West Bengal government to address land acquisition and law and order issues so that benefits of these investments and projects reach citizens at the earliest.

“For the development of Railways land acquisition is important and I will request the Hon’ble Chief Minister to help us in land acquisition,” the Minister said. The Minister also informed that 101 stations in West Bengal are being modernised under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and around 1290km of tracks were added in the state in the last 10 years.

During the interaction Mr. Vaishnaw said that there are nine Vande Bharat trains operating in West Bengal which is a significant number. The Minister informed that in West Bengal, 3,337km of tracks would be covered with the Kavach system to enhance railway safety.

Also Read | Union Budget 2025: Railways allocation remains unchanged at ₹2.65 lakh crore, budget for customer amenities, investment in PSUs slashed

The remarks by the Minister of Railways assumes significance amid complaints from the Trinamool Congress leadership that the allocation to Railway projects in West Bengal has been reduced since the Ministry of Railways was headed by leaders from Trinamool Congress.

Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee was Railways Minister for two terms — first during the NDA government in 2000 and then in UPA government from 2009 to 2011. After Ms. Banerjee, Trinamool leaders Mukul Roy and Dinesh Trivedi have also held the portfolio.

There are several key Railway projects in West Bengal including the East West Metro Project connecting Howrah Maidan to Sector V in Salt Lake through an under river tunnel whose completion has been delayed in the State. The project, however is operational along certain routes.

Kolkata:

In her new book, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has squarely blamed Congress for the BJP’s return to power at the Centre for the third consecutive term in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

A total of three new books penned by the Chief Minister were released on the first day of the Kolkata International Book Fair on Tuesday afternoon and one of the three books titled ‘Banglar Nirbachon o Amra (Bengal elections and us)’, she has made an analysis of the results of the 2024 general elections.

As per her observations in the book, despite wholehearted attempts by the Trinamool Congress, the opposition INDIA bloc was unable to gain electoral success because of the failure on the part of Congress.

“We earnestly wanted a strong opposition bloc against BJP at the national level combining all anti-BJP forces. Since the beginning, we had insisted on a common minimum programme and common manifesto. The name of the opposition bloc too was my proposal. Congress was offered the chair of the leader of the national bloc. But despite that, there was neither a common minimum programme nor any common manifesto. The bloc constituents contested between themselves. This helped BJP to regain power even without gaining a majority,” Chief Minister wrote in her book.

She has also claimed in the book that the number of seats that Congress had won in the last Lok Sabha elections was because of the backing of the other allies in the INDIA bloc.

On the West Bengal-specific election aspect, the Chief Minister had claimed that although in the state Congress had a seat-sharing arrangement with CPI(M)-led Left Front, in reality, it was a bigger anti-Trinamool Congress arrangement with clandestine understanding with BJP.

According to her, the Trinamool Congress’ electoral success in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls was because of the spontaneous public support inspired by the different developmental activities undertaken by her government.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Trinamool Congress improved its tally to 29 from 22 in 2019. On the other hand, BJP’s tally declined to 12 from 18 in 2019. Congress managed to win from one seat, while CPI(M)-led Left Front ended with zero.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata/New Delhi:

Expressing her disappointment that Sanjay Roy, the man convicted of raping and murdering a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, did not get the death penalty, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said her government will approach the High Court. 

Immediately after a Kolkata court sentenced Roy to life imprisonment till death on Monday, the Trinamool Congress chief – whose government came under fire for its alleged “mishandling” of the case and faced widespread protests, including from junior doctors – said the Kolkata Police would have ensured death penalty for him, but the investigation was taken away from the force and handed over to the CBI.

“We demanded death penalty from Day 1. We demand it now too. But it’s the court’s order. I can share my party’s opinion… we ensured death penalty in three cases within 60 days. If the case stayed with us, we would have ensured death penalty long back. I don’t know the details,” Ms Banerjee said.

In a post on X in the evening, Ms Banerjee expressed “shock” that the judgment held that the rape and murder did not fall in the category of “rarest of rare cases”. Asserting that the case warrants capital punishment, she said her government would “plead” for it at the High Court. 

“I am convinced that it is indeed a rarest of rare case which demands capital punishment. How could the judgement come to the conclusion that it is not a rarest of rare case?!  We want and insist upon death penalty in this most sinister and sensitive case.Recently, in last 3/4 months, we have been able to ensure capital/ maximum punishment for convicts in such crimes. Then, why, in this case, has capital punishment not been awarded? (sic),” she wrote.

In the R.G. Kar junior doctor’s rape and murder case, I am really shocked to see that the judgement of the Court today finds that it is not a Rarest of Rare case!

I am convinced that it is indeed a rarest of rare case which demands capital punishment. How could the judgement…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 20, 2025

“I strongly feel that it is a heinous crime that warrants capital punishment. We will plead for capital punishment of the convict at the High Court now,” the chief minister added.