Pre-Poll Outreach: Mamata govt moves to clear ROPA 2009 DA dues in West Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday announced that her government will begin clearing long-pending Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears of state employees and pensioners from March 2026, a move seen as politically significant ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, which is expected to be held in April-May 2026 .

The decision will benefit a wide spectrum of recipients, including government employees, retired personnel, teachers, non-teaching staff, municipal and panchayat workers, and employees of grant-in-aid institutions across West Bengal. The arrears relate to the Revision of Pay and Allowances (ROPA) 2009 , an issue that has remained unresolved for years and has been a major source of discontent among employee unions.

In a post on social media platform X, Banerjee said beneficiaries would start receiving their dues from March in accordance with modalities issued by the state finance department. The announcement came shortly after the government approved an increase in honorariums for purohits and muezzins, reinforcing perceptions of a broader pre-election outreach effort.

The DA dispute had also reached the Supreme Court of India, where a section of employees sought legal intervention for the release of pending payments. The court directed the state to disburse 25 percent of the arrears by March 31, 2026 , adding urgency to the government’s move.

Political observers say the timing is aimed at addressing long-standing grievances of a large and influential voter base that includes serving employees and pensioners. Opposition parties, however, have accused the government of acting only under judicial pressure and electoral considerations.

The DA arrears issue has been one of the most contentious administrative matters in the state, with employees demanding parity with central government allowances. While the phased payout is expected to provide partial relief, unions continue to press for full settlement.

With polling season approaching, the announcement is likely to become a key campaign issue, shaping the political narrative in the run-up to the Assembly elections.