Hours Before Bengal Poll Dates Announcement, CM Mamata Announces Major DA & Honorarium Move For Priests, Muezzins

New Delhi: Just hours before the Election Commission of India is set to release the schedule for the 2026 Assembly polls, West Bengal Mamata Banerjee on Sunday announced Dearness Allowance or DA for thousands of state government employees. 

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo said that her government will begin clearing pending dearness allowance (DA) arrears of state employees and pensioners from March this year. 

The measure extends to a wide range of beneficiaries, including educators, school support staff, and grant-in-aid sector employees.

The move comes as five regions, including Bengal, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Assam prepare for the official start of the election cycle.

Precede the Model Code of Conduct

This move was timed to precede the mandatory Model Code of Conduct (MCC), a set of restrictive guidelines that takes effect the moment the Election Commission formally declares the voting dates.

In a post on X, TMC chief said, “I am happy to announce that our Ma-Mati-Manush government has delivered on its promise to all its employees and pensioners, and to lakhs of teachers and non-teaching staff of our educational institutions, as well as employees/ pensioners of our other grant-in-aid instititions like panchayats, municipal bodies, other local bodies etc.”

TMC chief further added, “They will start receiving their ROPA 2009 DA arrears from March 2026 onwards as per the modalities detailed out in the Notifications issued by our Finance Department.”

Poll date announcement

Notably, the Election Commission of India, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar alongside Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, is set to announce the schedule for the upcoming assembly elections in five poll-bound states ( Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry) later today, with a press conference expected to take place at 4 pm.

Pre-poll blitz- hike in honorarium

In a separate post, Mamata also announced a hike in monthly stipends for West Bengal's priests and muezzins.

Taking to X, Mamata Banerjee said the state government has decided to increase the monthly honorarium given to priests (purohits) and muezzins by Rs 500.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo posted, "I am pleased to announce an increase of Rs 500 in the monthly honorariums extended to our purohits and muezzins, whose service sustains the spiritual and social life of our communities." 

With the revision, the monthly payment for both groups will increase to Rs 2,000.

She added, “At the same time, all fresh applications that have been duly submitted by purohits and muezzins have also been approved by the State Government.”

The post further read, “We take pride in nurturing an environment where every community and every tradition is valued and strengthened. Our endeavour remains to ensure that the custodians of our rich spiritual heritage receive the recognition and support they deserve.”

These measures were finalized just before the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct. 

This regulatory framework, which triggers the moment poll dates are made public, effectively freezes all new government commitments and welfare schemes to ensure a level playing field for all political parties.

BJP calls it ‘poll gimmick’

The BJP, however, termed Mamata Banerjee's announcement a "poll gimmick" and claimed that no money would actually be released.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, taking to X, stated, "What a JOKE! Mamata Banerjee suddenly remembers lakhs of employees, pensioners, teachers and non-teaching staff just MINUTES before the Election Commission announces poll dates? "

He added, “ After years of looting the state treasury and cheating them blind, this is your desperate last-minute poll gimmick? Not a single paisa will actually be released. ”

What ECI said

The Election Commission of India, in a presser announcing poll dates, clarified today that the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect across all relevant states following its press conference announcing the assembly election schedules, including for West Bengal, but any decisions or announcements made by state governments prior to this, including Chief Minister Banerjee's recent hike in monthly honorarium and related DA or similar benefits-are considered valid actions of the respective state government and not in violation of the code. 

The DA Standoff

The state's sudden move to clear ROPA 2009 DA arrears is widely seen as a strategic pivot ahead of the 2026 elections, following years of intense legal friction.

The dispute began when employees moved the Calcutta High Court seeking parity with Central rates, a demand the state initially resisted, even challenging a May 2022 ruling in the Supreme Court.

Furthermore, facing a massive "cease-work" strike by employee unions and a widening 40% pay gap compared to the Centre, the government has now capitulated just hours before the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct.