Source The Hindu
BONGAON/KOLKATA — In a major electoral gambit aimed at swaying the crucial women’s vote in the final phases of the West Bengal Assembly Elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that a BJP-led government in the state would implement a 33% reservation for women in all government jobs.
Addressing a massive sea of supporters in Bongaon, a stronghold of the Matua community, the Prime Minister framed the proposal as a direct remedy to what he termed the “Jungle Raj” of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Double-Engine, Double Benefits
Modi emphasized that the “double-engine government” (BJP at both the Center and State) would prioritize the financial and social security of women. Beyond the job quota, he reiterated a landmark promise to deposit ₹36,000 annually directly into the bank accounts of women in the state—a move clearly designed to counter the TMC’s popular Lakshmir Bhandar scheme.
“The women of Bengal have been the biggest victims of betrayal under the TMC,” the Prime Minister said. “From the atrocities in Sandeshkhali to the missing daughters of our state, the current regime has failed to provide safety. Our government will not just provide security, but also the power of decision-making and economic independence.”
Key Highlights of the PM’s Address:
33% Job Reservation: A commitment to reserve one-third of state government positions for women.
Direct Cash Transfer: Annual financial assistance of ₹36,000 for women.
Security Concerns: Sharp criticism of the TMC over the Sandeshkhali incidents and general law and order.
Matua Outreach: The PM also visited the Matua Mahasangha headquarters in Thakurnagar, seeking the blessings of the influential Dalit community.
The Legislative Backdrop
The Prime Minister’s promise comes on the heels of the Union Government’s recent notification on April 16, 2026, which brought the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act into force. While the federal law focuses on 33% reservation in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, Modi’s latest “Bengal-specific” pledge extends that logic to the executive branch through state government employment.
TMC’s Counter-Attack
The ruling Trinamool Congress was quick to dismiss the announcement as “election-season optics.” Senior TMC leaders pointed out that the 33% legislative reservation passed by the Center remains “inoperative” until a fresh census and delimitation exercise are completed. “The PM is selling dreams that he has stalled at the national level. Bengal’s women already trust Mamata Banerjee’s proven track record over empty promises,” a TMC spokesperson stated.
As the state moves toward the final rounds of polling, the battle for the “Mayer-Bonera” (mothers and sisters) vote has officially become the centerpiece of the 2026 campaign.
