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West Bengal's first budget under the BJP government includes plans for 100,000 new jobs, a Dearness Allowance (DA) hike, and significant investment in infrastructure, including a new airport. The budget aims to balance welfare continuity with an emphasis on economic development.
Swapan Dasgupta outlines a 'Marshall Plan' for Bengal, prioritizing revenue generation without imposing additional tax burdens on ordinary people to cut losses and foster development.
Bengal Minister Swapan Dasgupta commented on the internal divisions within the Trinamool Congress, stating, 'Let them squabble. Let them self-destruct. I don't expect that we should have to choose between these.'
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a historic mandate in the 2026 Assembly elections, achieving an absolute majority in Assam for the first time and making significant gains in West Bengal. While Mamata Banerjee's party retained power in West Bengal, the BJP's performance marked a notable shift in the political landscape of both states.
"After 15 years, there is mounting public dis-satisfaction and we have emerged as the only real alternative (to the Trinamool Congress), not the Left or the Congress.
The BJP presented its first budget for Bengal, highlighting a Rs 36,000-crore scheme for women and a plan to create 1 lakh jobs, alongside a salary hike. The budget also included a reduction in funds for the Minority Affairs Department.
Swapan Dasgupta, a prominent Indian politician, visited Siliguri in North Bengal for a pre-budget outreach program, emphasizing the region's importance.
Swapan Dasgupta's long political arc is highlighted, from being a key conservative voice to becoming a first-time Bengal BJP MLA and Minister.
Prime Minister Modi's BJP party secured a historic victory in the West Bengal state election, gaining control of the state and ending the Trinamool Congress's long-standing rule.
Swapan Dasgupta stated that the TMC treats South Kolkata as its "fief" and vowed to ensure that this sense of entitlement is short-lived, dismissing any "SIR effect" in Rashbehari.
Swapan Dasgupta's West Bengal budget includes provisions aimed at empowering women to earn income through home kitchen businesses.
The West Bengal government has finalized its cabinet portfolios, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari retaining key departments such as home, land, and power. Swapan Dasgupta has been allocated the finance ministry, and Dilip Ghosh will oversee panchayats.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs Abhishek Banerjee and Kalyan Banerjee were attacked in West Bengal, with both alleging political violence and blaming BJP-linked individuals. The incidents have sparked condemnation from TMC leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, and garnered support from Rahul Gandhi, further escalating political tensions in the state.
The upcoming election in Rashbehari, West Bengal, is anticipated to be a close race, with Trinamool's Debasish Kumar facing a strong challenge from BJP's Swapan Dasgupta, fueled by a narrow lead for Trinamool in the last Lok Sabha polls.