In a swift strategic move on Sunday, March 15, 2026, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a ₹500 increase in the monthly honorarium for Hindu priests (purohits) and Muslim muezzins.
The announcement was made via a post on X (formerly Twitter) at 2:40 PM—barely 80 minutes before the Election Commission of India (ECI) officially released the 2026 Assembly election schedule.
With this revision, both groups will now receive a monthly payment of ₹2,000, up from the previous ₹1,500.The timing of the decision is critical, as it allows the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government to fulfill a long-standing demand just moments before the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) took effect.
Once the MCC is active, governments are legally barred from announcing new financial schemes or policy changes that could influence voters.
In addition to the hike, the Chief Minister confirmed that the state government has approved all “fresh applications” from priests and muezzins seeking the honorarium, ensuring that more religious functionaries are brought under the scheme’s umbrella.
Banerjee also used the occasion to clear a significant hurdle for state employees, announcing the disbursement of ROPA 2009 DA arrears starting from March 2026.
While the opposition BJP has dismissed the honorarium hike as a “political bribe” that will not affect the election outcome, the move reinforces the TMC’s strategy of building an inclusive platform that addresses the spiritual and social “custodians” of various communities.
Political observers view this as a targeted outreach to consolidate support among influential local community leaders ahead of a high-stakes two-phase election in Bengal.
By pushing through these financial approvals in the final moments of “business as usual,” Mamata Banerjee has ensured that her government’s last message before the polls is one of community support and religious inclusion.
Whether this ₹500 increase will pay dividends at the ballot box on May 4 remains to be seen, but the move has successfully set a populist tone for the TMC’s campaign as the state prepares for its most intense electoral battle in years.
