West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the Election Commission of India has stalled the implementation of a 4 per cent Dearness Allowance (DA) hike for state government employees, turning the issue into a fresh political flashpoint ahead of the state’s Assembly Elections.
Addressing a public rally in Barrackpore in support of Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Raj Chakraborty, Mamata claimed that the file required to notify the DA increase is being withheld by the poll body due to the ongoing election process.
“I had stated in the budget that I would provide a 4 per cent DA hike. The Election Commission has stalled that file. I urge the Commission to release it immediately in the interest of government employees. This matter should not have even reached your desk, as it was announced prior to the elections,” she said.
Reiterating her government’s commitment, the Chief Minister added that 25 per cent DA has already been disbursed and assured employees that the additional 4 per cent hike would be included in their April salaries.
“I always keep my promises,” she asserted.
Meanwhile, the ‘Votkarmi and BLO Oikya Mancha’ (Poll Workers and BLO Unity Forum) has intervened in the matter, seeking clarity on the delay. A delegation from the organisation recently met Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal, raising concerns over the absence of an official government order despite the announcement being made during the state budget session on February 5.
In a communication to the CEO, the forum’s General Secretary, Swapan Mandal, pointed out that considerable time has elapsed since the announcement, yet no formal notification has been issued. The organisation alleged that the delay stems from the Election Commission withholding approval during the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, and further claimed that the situation is being politically leveraged during the campaign.
Separately, in compliance with a directive from the Supreme Court, the state government has begun the process of clearing pending DA arrears from 2016 to 2018. Officials indicated that efforts are underway to expedite payments across various government departments as well as educational institutions.
At the national level, the DA issue continues to gain traction, with central government employees intensifying demands for the constitution of the 8th Pay Commission, adding another dimension to the ongoing discourse around employee benefits.
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