March 20, 2026: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday released the Trinamool Congress (TMC) manifesto for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. The manifesto promises several welfare initiatives, including the “Lakshmi Bhandar” scheme providing monthly grants of Rs 1,500 to women in the general category and Rs 1,700 to SC/ST women, along with Rs 1,500 monthly pocket money for unemployed youth.
The manifesto also focuses on industry, employment, education, and healthcare. Banerjee highlighted Bengal’s industrial potential, particularly in MSMEs, and announced the launch of “Duare Chikitsa,” a door-to-door healthcare initiative at every booth. Schools will be modernized with e-learning facilities, and the government plans to create 7–8 new districts along with additional blocks and municipalities.
Agriculture receives a major boost with a proposed Rs 30,000 crore allocation to support farm-dependent families and landless farmers. Banerjee also urged voters to unite against the BJP, warning against attempts to intimidate or bribe voters, and emphasised communal harmony, stating, “Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians are all the same.”