Background: BJP's Historic Win in West Bengal

On May 9, 2026, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed its first-ever government in West Bengal, ending a 15-year Trinamool Congress (TMC) rule under Mamata Banerjee. The historic win marked a significant political shift in one of India's most politically charged states. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in, and the new cabinet wasted no time in rolling out sweeping policy changes that signal a sharp departure from the governance model of the previous government.

West Bengal under Mamata Banerjee had introduced over 90 social welfare schemes, with an annual welfare expenditure estimated at approximately ₹1.8 lakh crore — nearly 45% of the state's projected budget for 2026–27. The new BJP government has signalled that it intends to continue welfare spending but restructure it away from religion-based grants and towards broader, secular development schemes.

Schemes Discontinued
Religious
Imam, muezzin & priest stipends; madrasa funding; state religious festival grants — all end June 1, 2026
New Women's Scheme
₹3,000/mo
Annapurna Bhandar replaces Lakshmir Bhandar with a 100% increase for general category women
Scholarship Status
Continues
Academic scholarships for students from all communities remain unaffected by the new policy
Free Travel
June 1
Women get free travel on all state-run buses from June 1, 2026

What Religious Monetary Schemes Are Being Stopped?

In its second cabinet meeting since formation, the BJP government announced the discontinuation of all religion-based monetary schemes run under the Information & Cultural Affairs (I&CA) and the Madrasah & Minority Affairs (M&MA) departments — effective June 1, 2026.

Schemes Being Discontinued Include:

🕌

Imam & Muezzin Monthly Honorarium

Monthly stipends of ₹2,000 given to imams and muezzins across the state. This was a Mamata-era scheme, enhanced by ₹500 just before election dates were announced by the Election Commission.

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Priest Honorarium

Monthly financial support provided to Hindu priests registered under the state scheme will also be discontinued as part of the uniform withdrawal of religion-based grants.

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Madrasa Infrastructure Funding

State funding for madrasa development, infrastructure support, and operational grants under the M&MA department is being withdrawn.

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State Festival Grants (Durga Puja, etc.)

The previous government had funded state festivals including Durga Puja under its promotion budget. The exact scope of what is discontinued here is yet to be fully detailed on paper.

"Schemes and assistance based on religious categorisation under I&CA and M&MA departments will be discontinued. However, scholarships will continue."

— Cabinet Minister Agnimitra Paul, West Bengal BJP Government

It is important to note that academic scholarships for students — including those from minority communities — are explicitly excluded from the cuts and will continue as before. The BJP framed this move as eliminating "unconstitutional" religion-specific monetary transfers that they argued amounted to vote-bank politics.

Annapurna Bhandar Scheme: The ₹3,000 Women's Welfare Scheme Explained

The most significant announcement by the new government is the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme — also known as the Matri Shakti Bharosa Card Scheme. It is set to replace Mamata Banerjee's flagship Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme, nearly doubling the monthly benefit for women in the general category.

Criteria OLD Lakshmir Bhandar NEW Annapurna Bhandar
Monthly Amount (General) ₹1,500/month ₹3,000/month
Monthly Amount (SC/ST) ₹1,700/month ₹3,000/month (uniform)
Payment Mode Direct Bank Transfer Direct Bank Transfer (DBT)
Re-application Required — No — auto-transferred
Portal Lakshmir Bhandar Portal Renamed as Annapurna Bhandar Portal
Launch Date Earlier TMC tenure June 1, 2026
Illegal Immigrants No explicit bar Explicitly excluded
CAA Applicants Not addressed Eligible to continue

Who Is Eligible?

Women across all 23 districts of West Bengal who were previously receiving the Lakshmir Bhandar benefit will be automatically transferred to the Annapurna Bhandar registry — no fresh application is needed. For new applicants, a separate portal will be set up. The government has explicitly stated that illegal immigrants and non-citizens are ineligible, while those who have applied for citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) or approached the tribunal via the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process can still avail the benefit.

Other Key Announcements by the Adhikari Government

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7th Pay Commission for Government Employees

Implementation announced for state government employees — a long-pending demand that was delayed under the previous TMC government.

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Free Bus Travel for Women

All women can travel free on West Bengal state government buses from June 1, 2026 — a move in line with BJP's election manifesto promises.

🏥

Central Schemes Now Available

Ayushman Bharat (PM Jan Arogya Yojana), PM Vishwakarma, PM Fasal Bima Yojana, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and PM Ujjwala Yojana 3.0 — all previously blocked under the TMC government — are now being implemented in West Bengal.

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Public Order & Religious Activity Rules

The government enforced the 1950 Animal Slaughter Act, banned loudspeakers beyond prayer premises, and prohibited praying on roads or blocking traffic — announced ahead of Eid-ul-Adha on May 27.

Political Context: What This Means

The BJP's sweeping policy changes in the first two weeks of assuming office in West Bengal reflect a deliberate attempt to distinguish its governance from Mamata Banerjee's model. While the previous government's welfare-heavy approach won significant electoral loyalty, critics argued it blurred constitutional boundaries through religion-specific monetary grants.

The BJP's approach — stopping religion-targeted cash transfers while increasing the quantum of universal women's welfare — is designed to project an image of secular, development-oriented governance. However, opposition parties have argued that the discontinuation of schemes like imam stipends disproportionately affects minority communities who depended on this income.

Religious leaders in the state have confirmed they will comply with the government's new directives, even as civic society groups continue to debate the policy implications.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

❓ Will existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries lose their benefit?
No. Existing beneficiaries will be automatically shifted to the Annapurna Bhandar scheme registry and will actually receive a higher amount of ₹3,000/month instead of the earlier ₹1,500–₹1,700/month. Re-application is not required.
❓ Do scholarships for minority students continue?
Yes. Cabinet Minister Agnimitra Paul explicitly confirmed that scholarships will continue and are not part of the discontinued religious monetary schemes.
❓ When exactly do the religious monetary schemes stop?
The discontinuation is effective from June 1, 2026. The exact list of all schemes under the purview of this decision is yet to be released officially in writing by the government.
❓ Can women apply freshly for Annapurna Bhandar?
Yes. Fresh applications will be processed through a new dedicated portal, which the government is expected to launch before June 1, 2026. Details on eligibility documents and registration will be announced via official channels.
❓ Are CAA applicants eligible for Annapurna Bhandar?
Yes. The government has specifically stated that those who have applied for citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and those who have approached the tribunal through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process can continue to avail the scheme.
❓ Is Durga Puja funding being completely stopped?
This remains partially unclear. The government has announced withdrawal of religion-based state festival funding, but the full scope — especially around Durga Puja grants — has not yet been detailed in official documents.