With the Assembly elections on the horizon, the West Bengal government is set to present its Vote on Account (Interim Budget) in the Legislative Assembly today. State Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya will table the budget, which is expected to be packed with populist measures aimed at securing the electorate’s support.

The primary focus remains on the ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ scheme. Speculations are rife that the government might increase the monthly allowance for women to gain a competitive edge before the polls. Additionally, the protesting Asha workers and other social security beneficiaries are eagerly waiting for potential hikes in their allocations.

Simultaneously, a massive legal showdown is expected as the Supreme Court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on the long-standing Dearness Allowance (DA) case today. Historically, the state government has announced DA hikes on budget days—3% in 2023 and 4% in subsequent years. If the apex court rules in favor of the employees, it could pose a significant financial challenge to the state exchequer.

The political atmosphere is electric. BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar claimed that the Supreme Court would force the Chief Minister to pay the rightful dues to employees, amounting to nearly ₹40,000 crore. On the contrary, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh defended the government, stating that Mamata Banerjee has consistently increased DA in phases and views government employees as partners in development, accusing the opposition of misleading the public for political gains.