Kamal Ghorui
KOLKATA: Minutes before the model code of conduct (MCC) for the assembly polls kicked in, CM Mamata Banerjee on Sunday took to X to announce that her govt would pay around Rs 10,000 crore in DA arrears to its 9 lakh employees — including teachers, non-teaching staff in educational institutions and employees of grant-in-aid institutions — and pensioners. Disbursal will start this month.The CM also announced a hike of Rs 500 in the monthly honorarium for purohits and muezzins, raising their allowance to Rs 2,000 a month.The honorarium hike for Hindu and Muslim clergy was announced first, at 2.40 pm. Exactly 80 minutes later, Election Commission would start its press conference to announce the assembly poll dates for Bengal, 3 other states and 1 UT. At 3.05pm, came the announcement on DA arrears.“I am pleased to announce an increase of Rs 500 in the monthly honorariums extended to our purohits and muezzins, whose service sustains the spiritual and social life of our communities. With this revision, they will now receive Rs 2,000 per month,” was Banerjee’s first post on X. Her next tweet read, “They will start receiving their ROPA (Revision of Pay and Allowances) 2009 DA arrears from March 2026 onwards, as per the modalities detailed in the notifications issued by our finance department.”Supreme Court had in Feb 2026 directed the Bengal govt to pay 25% of the DA arrears, which works out to Rs 10,000 crore, by March 31. The rest has to be paid according to a modality framed by a committee led by Justice (retired) Indu Malhotra.When asked by reporters, EC said the announcements did not violate the MCC. Chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said, “With regard to the decisions of certain govts just before the model code of conduct came into force, I have already explained earlier that in a democratic set-up, state and central govts can take any policy decision they feel is appropriate. However, once the model code of conduct comes into operation, any decision which affects the outcome of the elections or acts as an inducement is not allowed. The model code of conduct has come into force just now.”Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, “The timing has nothing to do with polls or election dates. The CM had planned this scheme well in advance and made the formal announcement when she deemed it appropriate. It is a well-thought-out decision.”Bhaskar Ghosh of Sangrami Joutha Mancha called the announcement a “result of sustained pressure created by the agitating state employees from a non-partisan platform”. Bengal leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari dismissed the DA announcement as a “joke” and a “classic TMC election drama”. Addressing the CM, he wrote on X, “Is this your desperate last-minute poll gimmick?”The other announcement, too, has multiple implications. Currently, muezzins — who call the faithful to namaz — and priests in Bengal receive Rs 1,500 a month. Following the hike, they will get Rs 2,000 a month. Imams get a monthly allowance of Rs 2,500 from the govt.Bengal is home to around 2.5 lakh priests, of whom close to 1.7 lakh are registered with Paschimbanga Rajya Sanatan Brahman Trust. Rajib Banerjee, president of the trust, welcomed the move. “Many priests are economically vulnerable, and this increase will benefit them significantly,” he said.All India Imam Association president Moulana Bakibillah Molla, too, praised the move. “Roughly 60,000 imams and muezzins who are registered for the state honorarium will find this increase meaningful,” he said.
