Rs 3,000 direct benefit, women job quota, Singur revival: Amit Shah unveils BJP’s Bengal Sankalp Patra
Times of India | 10 April 2026
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.
Cash support, jobs & women-centric promises
At the core of the BJP’s pitch is direct financial support and employment generation:
Shah said the direct benefit transfer model would ensure transparency and eliminate middlemen.
Employment and economic push
The manifesto lays strong emphasis on jobs and industrial revival:
Governance, law and order focus
Positioning law and order as a key election issue, Shah promised:
He described the last 15 years of TMC rule as a “nightmare marked by fear, corruption, and administrative breakdown.”
National security and legal reforms
Agriculture, culture and social welfare
Healthcare and education expansion
‘Sonar Bangla’ vision
Framing 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.