Mamata Banerjee doubles income support for women to protect her turf ahead of Lok Sabha election

Now, with the increased benefits, the scheme is expected to further solidify Mamata Banerjee's position, especially among female voters. Currently, around 2.11 crore people are benefiting from the "Lakhir Bhandar" scheme, and an additional allocation of ₹12,000 crores has been made to support the enhanced benefits.

Under the revised scheme, women above the age of 60 will receive the increased amount as part of their old-age pension. Mamata Banerjee emphasised inclusivity, stating, "We don’t want any differences. All women will benefit from this initiative."

However, the move has drawn criticism, with the Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleging that it's merely a pre-election tactic. However, political analysts believe that the "Lakhir Bhandar" scheme has been instrumental in Mamata Banerjee's previous electoral success and could play a crucial role in the upcoming polls as well.

Similar women-centric schemes have proven to be advantageous for political parties across the country. In Madhya Pradesh, the "Ladli Behena Scheme" contributed to the BJP's victory, while in Karnataka, the "Gruha Lakshmi Scheme" has been beneficial for the state government.

However, unlike these states where such schemes primarily target underprivileged women, Mamata Banerjee's initiative in West Bengal is aimed at all women, setting it apart from others.