Mamata Announces ROPA 2009 DA Arrears Minutes Before Bengal Poll Dates, Opposition Calls It Election Gimmick

Just minutes before the Election Commission announced the Assembly election dates, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a major announcement regarding Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears for state government employees, triggering sharp political reactions ahead of the polls.

The Chief Minister said the state government would begin releasing ROPA 2009 DA arrears from March 2026 onwards to thousands of employees and pensioners.

The announcement came shortly before the Election Commission of India declared the poll schedule for the state Assembly elections.

DA Arrears Announcement for Employees

In a post on social media platform X, Mamata Banerjee said her government had fulfilled its commitment to state employees and pensioners.

She said the decision would benefit lakhs of government staff, teachers, non-teaching staff and employees of grant-in-aid institutions, including those working in panchayats, municipalities and other local bodies.

According to her statement, the payments will start from March 2026 based on the guidelines issued by the state Finance Department.

“I am happy to announce that our Ma-Mati-Manush government has delivered on its promise to all its employees and pensioners,” Mamata Banerjee wrote.

Protesting Employees Welcome Decision

Interestingly, the announcement received a positive response from several protesting government employees who had been demanding DA arrears for years.

Some employee groups said the move was the result of sustained protests against the state government.

“Our Chief Minister knows the language of protest and our protest brought us this joy,” one protesting employee said after the announcement.

The issue of DA arrears has been a major political and administrative dispute in West Bengal, with employees repeatedly holding demonstrations demanding parity with central government DA rates.

Opposition Calls Move ‘Election Gimmick’

However, the announcement immediately triggered strong criticism from the opposition.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari accused Mamata Banerjee of making a last-minute announcement purely for electoral gains.

In a sharp post on social media, Adhikari said:

“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 further alleged that the move was a “desperate last-minute poll gimmick” and claimed that the state government had not allocated funds to actually release the arrears.

“Zero accountability, zero funds, zero delivery — only empty notifications from the Finance Department to fool the people one last time,” Adhikari said.

Honorarium Raised for Priests and Muezzins

Along with the DA announcement, Mamata Banerjee also declared a ₹500 increase in the monthly honorarium for priests and muezzins in the state.

With the revision, purohits and muezzins will now receive ₹2,000 per month from the state government.

The Chief Minister also said that all new applications submitted by priests and muezzins for the honorarium scheme have been approved.

According to Mamata, the support is aimed at recognising the role played by religious functionaries in maintaining the social and spiritual life of communities.

Political Heat Rises Ahead of Elections

The announcements have intensified the political atmosphere in West Bengal just as the election battle begins.

With the state heading into a high-stakes Assembly election, both the ruling All India Trinamool Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party are expected to intensify campaigning in the coming weeks.

While the government says the decisions fulfil long-pending promises, the opposition insists they are aimed at influencing voters ahead of the polls.