Budget Impacting 294 Seats: Mamata Government’s Biggest Allocation for Villages, Focus on Electoral Strategy
Kolkata (West Bengal) : The West Bengal government presented its full budget on Wednesday, making a significant move to woo rural voters ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. Minister of State for Finance Chandrima Bhattacharya presented the budget in the assembly, with the highest allocation given to the Panchayat and Rural Development Department. This department received ₹44,139.65 crore, more than any other sector, making it evident that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is fully prepared to attract rural voters.
Out of the 294 seats in the West Bengal Assembly, approximately 170 to 180 seats are in rural areas, playing a decisive role in every election. Given this, it was expected that this year’s budget would bring major benefits to villages. While presenting the budget, Chandrima Bhattacharya announced increased funding for rural projects like “Pathshree” and “Banglar Bari.” The “Pathshree” project has been allocated ₹1,500 crore, while ₹9,600 crore has been earmarked for the “Banglar Bari” scheme.
According to the Minister of State for Finance, financial assistance was provided to 12 lakh families for constructing permanent houses in the current fiscal year, and in the next financial year, this aid will be extended to 16 lakh families.
Boost to Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Rural Economy
The budget gives high priority to the agricultural sector. The Agricultural Marketing Department has been allocated ₹426 crore, the Agriculture Department ₹10,000 crore, and the Animal Husbandry Department ₹1,272 crore. Additionally, ₹798 crore has been set aside for self-help groups and self-employment schemes. Furthermore, ₹200 crore has been allocated under the “Nadi Bandhan” project to prevent erosion along the banks of the Ganges River.
Focus on 100-Day Wage Scheme and Rural Employment
The Trinamool Congress has already taken several steps in favor of rural workers. After the central government stopped funding the 100-day employment scheme, the state government began payments from its own resources in February 2024. According to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, 24.5 lakh workers are receiving wages under this scheme. Additionally, the “Karmashree” scheme has been launched, aiming to provide 50 days of employment to rural workers.
In 2024, the rape and murder of a female doctor at R.G. Kar Hospital triggered massive protests against the state government, especially in urban areas. However, this incident had little impact in rural areas. This was reflected in the 2024 by-elections, where the Trinamool Congress won all rural seats. Now, with the 2026 elections in mind, the party is making significant investments to consolidate its rural vote bank.
However, after presenting the budget, Mamata Banerjee did not explicitly acknowledge that rural areas had been given more priority. She stated that the government aims to maintain a balance between rural and urban economies. She added that increasing employment opportunities in villages would also benefit urban economies.
Despite these claims, the numbers clearly indicate that this budget is strategically designed to strengthen TMC’s rural vote bank.