Kolkata, February 7: The Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, raised concerns on Friday regarding the practicality of announcing increased funding for various welfare schemes in the interim budget. This budget was presented on Thursday by the state Finance Minister (Independent Charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya in the Assembly.
According to Adhikari, the state government cannot increase payments for welfare schemes or determine the number of beneficiaries under these schemes in the interim budget.
Speaking to the media on Friday evening, he stated, “Naturally, the state government cannot allocate any budget for such schemes. Additionally, the increased funding announced in the interim budget will take effect from April 1, but by then, the model code of conduct will be in place, as the election dates for the Assembly have already been announced. Therefore, the state government has essentially confused the public with such announcements in the interim budget.”
He also noted that the current state cabinet has no authority to implement these announcements.
“It can only be implemented after a new cabinet is formed post-election, which will present a full budget in the Assembly. The state government has effectively used the interim budget as the TMC’s election manifesto,” he added.
Adhikari believes that such misleading announcements in the interim budget reflect Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee‘s fear of losing in the upcoming Assembly elections.
He remarked, “Out of fear of this loss, she is opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal. Now, in desperation, she is making such misleading announcements in the interim budget.”
Furthermore, Adhikari accused the Chief Minister of making deception a habit.
He pointed out that she previously misled the public by equating the NRC and CAA and did the same regarding the implementation of the Waqf (Amendment) Act.