Mamata Banerjee Announces DA Hike and Honorariums Ahead of West Bengal Election
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a hike in dearness allowance (DA) for state government employees and increased monthly honorariums for mosque muezzins and Hindu priests shortly before the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the upcoming assembly elections. The announcements, made on March 15, 2026, have drawn both praise and criticism from political opponents.
DA Arrears for State Government Employees
Banerjee stated that state government employees and pensioners will start receiving arrears from ROPA 2009 DA starting in March 2026, as detailed in notifications issued by the state Finance Department. NDTV reported on these announcements.
The Sangrami Joutha Mancha, a joint platform representing state employees, teachers and pensioners who have been agitating for three years and have taken their case to the Supreme Court, welcomed the announcement. The Supreme Court had recently ruled in their favor, stating that their DA should align with the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission.
Opposition Response
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari criticized Banerjee’s announcement as a “desperate last-minute gimmick,” suggesting it was an attempt to influence voters. NDTV reported Adhikari’s comments on X, questioning the actual release of funds and accusing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of election-time theatrics.
During a rally on March 2, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had stated that government employees in other Indian states receive salaries recommended by the 7th Pay Commission, although those in West Bengal remain under the 6th Pay Commission, promising to implement the 7th Pay Commission within 45 days if the BJP wins the election.
Honorariums for Religious Leaders
In addition to the DA hike, Banerjee announced an increase in monthly honorariums for muezzins of mosques and Hindu priests, raising the amount from ₹1,500 to ₹2,000. She also approved all pending applications for these honorariums.
BJP Bengal unit president Samik Bhattacharya stated that the increased honorariums would not affect the election outcome, suggesting it was a standard government practice to support religious leaders.
Banerjee initially introduced a monthly honorarium of ₹1,000 for priests in 2020, a move that sparked debate and accusations of attempting to secure Hindu votes ahead of the 2021 assembly elections. This allowance was later increased to ₹1,500. In 2012, she announced a monthly honorarium of ₹2,500 for imams, which led to demands for a similar scheme for Hindu priests.
Background: 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly Election
The 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election saw Banerjee’s TMC win a landslide victory, securing 215 of the 294 seats, while the BJP won 77. The Left and Congress parties failed to win any seats for the first time since India’s independence. Wikipedia provides details on the 2021 election results.
Recent Election Commission Concerns
Recently, on February 17, 2026, Mamata Banerjee criticized the Election Commission, calling it a ‘Tughlaqi Commission’ and accusing it of targeting officials. The Hindu reported that the West Bengal government suspended seven officials for misconduct during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, following requests from the ECI. The ECI rejected Banerjee’s allegations regarding the SIR exercise on February 2, 2026, News On AIR reported.