Mamata Banerjee launches Trinamool Congress manifesto for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, promising uninterrupted power supply, expanded welfare schemes, industrial growth, and new governance initiatives.
Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday projected West Bengal as a leading industrial destination and promised uninterrupted power supply for the next century if her party returns to power for a fourth consecutive term. Releasing the All India Trinamool Congress manifesto in Kolkata, Banerjee outlined an ambitious roadmap aimed at combining industrial expansion with welfare-driven governance ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Positioning the State as the “gateway to eastern India’s industry,” Banerjee said the government would invest heavily in logistics, business infrastructure, and a proposed global trade centre to attract investment. The manifesto also earmarks ₹30,000 crore for farmer welfare, promising support not only to cultivators but also to landless agricultural families.
Highlighting the State’s economic progress, the Chief Minister said West Bengal has emerged as a major hub for cement and leather industries, while also leading in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector. According to her, around 1.5 crore people are employed in MSMEs, with nearly 7 lakh working in the leather industry.
As part of her electoral outreach, Banerjee announced that the flagship Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, which provides monthly financial assistance to women, would be extended for life if the Trinamool Congress is re-elected. The scheme currently offers ₹1,500 to women from the general category and ₹1,700 to those from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, following a recent hike earlier this year.
She also reiterated support for the youth through the Yubasathi scheme, describing the ₹1,500 monthly allowance as “pocket money” that would continue alongside scholarships until beneficiaries secure employment. The scheme is available to those who have passed the Madhyamik examination and continues for up to five years or until a job is obtained.
A major highlight of her announcement was the promise of round-the-clock electricity for the next 100 years, which she linked to the progress of the Deocha Pachami coal mine project in Birbhum district. Work on the project began recently with basalt mining, a necessary step before accessing the coal reserves located beneath thick basalt layers.
On the social sector front, Banerjee said her government would modernise schools, promote e-learning, and continue efforts to recruit teachers, while alleging that legal challenges from the Opposition have slowed down hiring processes. She also pledged to ensure housing for all and extend piped drinking water to every household in the State.
Focusing on administrative efficiency, the Chief Minister announced plans to create seven to ten new districts along with additional blocks and municipalities. In healthcare, she unveiled the “Duare Chikitsa” initiative, aimed at delivering medical services directly to people’s homes, building on the existing “Duare Sarkar” model that brings government services closer to citizens.
Banerjee also emphasised support for senior citizens, particularly those living alone as their children migrate for work, assuring that her government would introduce targeted measures to care for the elderly.
The Assembly elections in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with Banerjee seeking a fourth straight term on the back of welfare expansion and industrial growth promises.
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| Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee releases the party’s poll manifesto in Kolkata on March 20, 2026. |
Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday projected West Bengal as a leading industrial destination and promised uninterrupted power supply for the next century if her party returns to power for a fourth consecutive term. Releasing the All India Trinamool Congress manifesto in Kolkata, Banerjee outlined an ambitious roadmap aimed at combining industrial expansion with welfare-driven governance ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Positioning the State as the “gateway to eastern India’s industry,” Banerjee said the government would invest heavily in logistics, business infrastructure, and a proposed global trade centre to attract investment. The manifesto also earmarks ₹30,000 crore for farmer welfare, promising support not only to cultivators but also to landless agricultural families.
Highlighting the State’s economic progress, the Chief Minister said West Bengal has emerged as a major hub for cement and leather industries, while also leading in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector. According to her, around 1.5 crore people are employed in MSMEs, with nearly 7 lakh working in the leather industry.
As part of her electoral outreach, Banerjee announced that the flagship Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, which provides monthly financial assistance to women, would be extended for life if the Trinamool Congress is re-elected. The scheme currently offers ₹1,500 to women from the general category and ₹1,700 to those from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, following a recent hike earlier this year.
She also reiterated support for the youth through the Yubasathi scheme, describing the ₹1,500 monthly allowance as “pocket money” that would continue alongside scholarships until beneficiaries secure employment. The scheme is available to those who have passed the Madhyamik examination and continues for up to five years or until a job is obtained.
A major highlight of her announcement was the promise of round-the-clock electricity for the next 100 years, which she linked to the progress of the Deocha Pachami coal mine project in Birbhum district. Work on the project began recently with basalt mining, a necessary step before accessing the coal reserves located beneath thick basalt layers.
On the social sector front, Banerjee said her government would modernise schools, promote e-learning, and continue efforts to recruit teachers, while alleging that legal challenges from the Opposition have slowed down hiring processes. She also pledged to ensure housing for all and extend piped drinking water to every household in the State.
Focusing on administrative efficiency, the Chief Minister announced plans to create seven to ten new districts along with additional blocks and municipalities. In healthcare, she unveiled the “Duare Chikitsa” initiative, aimed at delivering medical services directly to people’s homes, building on the existing “Duare Sarkar” model that brings government services closer to citizens.
Banerjee also emphasised support for senior citizens, particularly those living alone as their children migrate for work, assuring that her government would introduce targeted measures to care for the elderly.
The Assembly elections in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with Banerjee seeking a fourth straight term on the back of welfare expansion and industrial growth promises.
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