Mamata woos voters with 10 commitments, says Bengal will be ‘destination for industry’

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hailed West Bengal as the “destination for industry” and said that her government will ensure 24 hours power supply for the “next 100 years” if voted back to power for the fourth consecutive time.

The Trinamool Congress supremo released the party’s manifesto for the Assembly election on Friday (March 20, 2026) in Kolkata.

Ms. Banerjee, who is aiming for a fourth consecutive term, is wooing voters with what she called ‘Doshta Angikaar’ or 10 commitments that range from industrial infrastructure, upgraded schools, better healthcare and 24/7 power supply among others.

The party manifesto said that West Bengal will become eastern India’s industrial gateway with state-of-the-art logistics and business infrastructure and a global trade centre. The government will spend ₹30,000 crore for the welfare of farmers and stand by the families of farmers and the landless.

“We have become a cement and leather hub. We are number one in them, and number one in MSMEs,” she said, adding that 1.5 crore people work in MSMEs in the State and 7 lakh in the leather industry.

Ms. Banerjee said if the Trinamool wins the elections, to be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, the new government will extend the State’s marquee Lakshmir Bhandar scheme (monthly allowance for women) for life. At present, women aged between 25 ad 60 get ₹1,500 (from general category) and ₹1,700 (from Scheduled Tribes and Schedule Caste categories). The Chief Minister had increased the allowance by ₹500 per month in February.

She said that the ₹1,500 allowance under Yubasathi for youth aged between 21 and 40 is “pocket money” and will support them till they get a job. “This allowance will continue with other scholarships,” she said. The scheme provides the allowance to those who have passed the Madhyamik examination (Class 10) and will be given for five years or till the beneficiary finds a job, whichever is earlier.

Promising 24-hour power supply, the Chief Minister said, “Once Deocha Pachami coal mining project starts, it will provide power to Bengal for the next 100 years. We will give this gift to the next generations.”

Work on the project in Birbhum district began in February with basalt mining. It is the first step to make the coal mine operational as the coal reserve is located under a layer of basalt whose thickness is between 100 metres and 350 metres.

The Trinamool supremo said that her government will upgrade and modernise schools in the State and focus on e-learning initiatives. “I want to recruit teachers, but the Opposition always goes to the court and files cases. This stalls recruitment,” she said.

The Chief Minister said that the government will provide housing for all and extend piped water supply to all households in the State. Besides these, she will roll out initiatives to take care of the elderly whose children live elsewhere for work. “We will stand by our senior citizens,” she said.

Ms. Banerjee promised to create “seven to 10” new districts, and several blocks and municipalities for ease of administration.

She also promised to take healthcare to the people’s homes and announced the “Duare Chikitsa” (healthcare at the doorsteps) initiative. The West Bengal government already runs a “Duare Sarkar” programme that helps people get access to government services and welfare schemes almost at their doorsteps.