KOLKATA: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday said that if the BJP forms the government in West Bengal, it will provide Rs 3,000 to women by directly transferring the amount into their bank accounts. He also promised employment based on merit and announced a 33% reservation for women in jobs.Addressing an election rally in Kolkata, Shah unveiled the BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ (election manifesto) for the upcoming polls. He said the proposed financial assistance would be credited directly to women beneficiaries and highlighted several key promises, including the development of an industrial park in Singur and a crackdown on the sand mafia.“This manifesto is a roadmap to bring every section of Bengal out of despair. It will offer a new direction to farmers facing multiple challenges and present a vision for a developed India, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. People are frightened and disillusioned. They want change from the heart. Today, we are serving as the main opposition party in the Bengal Assembly,” Shah said.During his speech, Shah also targeted Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government, describing its 15-year rule as a “nightmare” for the people of West Bengal.“On the occasion of the Bengali New Year, our campaign begins with this resolve. Around Gurudev’s birth anniversary, it aims to move Bengal out of fear and establish governance based on trust. The 15-year rule of the TMC has been like a nightmare, marked by multiple crises. Based on this Sankalp Patra, the next five years under a BJP government will open new paths for the state’s development,” he said.He further alleged that Mamata Banerjee had spent three terms promoting fear, discrimination, and corruption.“Now, based on BJP’s promise of trust, the people of Bengal will seek a new path—one rooted in the rule of law, personal and national security, employment, and the creation of a ‘Sonar Bangla’,” Shah added.Shah also announced Rs 3,000 monthly financial assistance for unemployed youth if the BJP comes to power in the state.
What BJP’s Sankalp Patra promises
Cash support, jobs & women-centric promisesAt the core of the BJP’s pitch is direct financial support and employment generation:
- Rs 3,000 monthly direct cash transfer to women
- Rs 3,000 monthly assistance for unemployed youth (earlier versions mention higher targeted schemes in phases)
- 33% reservation for women in government jobs
- Formation of women-only police battalions
- Launch of “Durga Suraksha Sahaya” scheme for women’s safety
Shah said the direct benefit transfer model would ensure transparency and eliminate middlemen.Employment and economic pushThe manifesto lays strong emphasis on jobs and industrial revival:
- 1 crore jobs and self-employment opportunities in five years
- Industrial development including a major industrial park in Singur
- Revamp of tea gardens and Darjeeling tea branding
- Modernisation of the jute industry
- Push to make Bengal a fisheries export hub under PM Matsya Sampada Yojana
Governance, law and order focusPositioning law and order as a key election issue, Shah promised:
- Crackdown on sand mafia and syndicate raj
- End to alleged “cut money” practices
- White paper on corruption and governance under TMC rule
- Payment of pending Dearness Allowance (DA) and implementation of the 7th Pay Commission
He described the last 15 years of TMC rule as a “nightmare marked by fear, corruption, and administrative breakdown.”National security and legal reforms
- The BJP’s manifesto also highlights strong internal security measures:
- Policy of “detect, delete and deport” to tackle illegal infiltration
- Commitment to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC)
- Strict laws against cattle smuggling
Agriculture, culture and social welfare
- To address rural and cultural concerns, the party promised:
- Enhanced support for crops like rice, potato, and mango
- Inclusion of Kurmali and Rajbanshi languages in the Eighth Schedule
- Establishment of a ‘Vande Mataram’ museum
- Legal safeguards for freedom of religious practices
Healthcare and education expansion
- The manifesto outlines welfare expansion through central schemes:
- Implementation of Ayushman Bharat in the state
- Free HPV vaccination and breast cancer screening programs
- Expansion of premier institutions like AIIMS, IIT, and IIM in North Bengal
‘Sonar Bangla’ visionFraming the campaign around the idea of “Sonar Bangla” (Golden Bengal), Shah said:“This manifesto is a roadmap to bring every section of Bengal out of despair… and open new paths for development based on trust, law, and opportunity.”He also invoked cultural symbolism, linking the campaign launch to the Bengali New Year and Rabindranath Tagore’s legacy.
