A cloud of uncertainty has gathered over West Bengal’s flagship social security scheme, ‘Lakshmir Bhandar,’ as the state gears up for elections. Speculations are rife that the distribution of funds might be temporarily suspended until the election results are declared. This has left millions of beneficiaries wondering whether they will receive their April installment as scheduled.

While the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) prohibits new government announcements or financial sops, ongoing welfare schemes usually continue without hindrance. Since Lakshmir Bhandar is a pre-existing monthly commitment, there is no official directive from the Election Commission to halt the payments. However, administrative delays due to election duties could potentially lead to a slight shift in the credit cycle.

As of February 2026, following the latest hike by the Mamata Banerjee government, general category beneficiaries are eligible for ₹1,500 per month, while SC/ST beneficiaries receive ₹1,700. Beneficiaries can track their status via the official social security portal using their Application ID or mobile number. As of now, the state government has not issued any formal statement regarding the withholding of these funds, suggesting that the scheme is likely to proceed as usual.