Mamata Banerjee Accuses Suvendu Adhikari of ‘House Arrest’ Threat Amid Annapurna Yojana Row

A fresh political confrontation has erupted in West Bengal over delays and eligibility disputes surrounding the Annapurna Yojana, with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee accusing BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari of making a threat that could amount to intimidation or political persecution.

The dispute began after Banerjee criticised the BJP-led state government over complaints from women who claimed they had not received the promised ₹3,000 monthly financial assistance under the Annapurna scheme.

Adhikari subsequently took a dig at Banerjee during a press conference, telling her to remain on Facebook and not step out of her home. Banerjee later questioned the meaning of the remarks and asked whether they amounted to a threat of house arrest.

Mamata Questions Suvendu's Remark

Reacting to Adhikari's comments, Banerjee accused him of attempting to intimidate her and questioned his authority to restrict her movement.

She said the remarks raised serious questions about political freedom and constitutional rights, asking whether the statement amounted to “house arrest”, intimidation or political persecution.

Banerjee also said she would not surrender to what she described as authoritarian behaviour and accused the BJP government of creating a dangerous political environment.

She further claimed that the BJP's confidence and political approach would eventually face a response from voters.

Dispute Over ₹3,000 Women's Assistance

The controversy centres on the Annapurna Yojana, under which eligible women are supposed to receive ₹3,000 per month in financial assistance.

Banerjee has accused the BJP government of changing eligibility conditions after coming to power and reducing the number of beneficiaries.

She alleged that many women who had previously received assistance under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme were no longer receiving payments.

According to Banerjee, complicated application procedures and additional eligibility conditions have made it harder for women to qualify for the new scheme.

Banerjee Questions Beneficiary Exclusions

Speaking from her Kalighat residence during a Facebook Live session, Banerjee alleged that the BJP had failed to fulfil its pre-election promise of extending the Annapurna benefit to women across the state.

She also questioned the government's process for determining eligibility and withholding payments.

Banerjee claimed that payments for a large proportion of women who had previously benefited from Lakshmir Bhandar had either been stopped or withheld following the Assembly elections.

The allegations have not gone uncontested, with BJP leaders defending the eligibility process and accusing the TMC of attempting to politicise the issue.

Government Says 1.45 Crore Women Receiving Benefits

The state government has said that 1.45 crore women are currently receiving the ₹3,000 monthly assistance under the Annapurna scheme.

However, protests have been reported in several areas following complaints that large numbers of applicants were left off the beneficiary list.

Under the previous TMC government, Lakshmir Bhandar provided monthly assistance of between ₹1,000 and ₹1,500 and had around 2.3 crore beneficiaries, according to the claims cited in the dispute.

The government extended the application deadline to July 31 for applicants who were not included in the initial list.

Adhikari has maintained that eligible women will receive assistance and said the government would not alter its eligibility criteria because of political pressure, protests or social media campaigns.

BJP and TMC Trade Allegations

The dispute has increasingly turned into a broader political battle between the BJP and TMC.

Banerjee has accused the BJP administration of focusing on cases against opposition workers instead of ensuring that women receive financial assistance on time.

BJP leaders, meanwhile, have accused TMC supporters of encouraging protests and creating unrest over the scheme.

Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Pal alleged that TMC supporters were behind some of the demonstrations, while Panchayat Minister Dilip Ghosh criticised the previous government's approach to distributing Lakshmir Bhandar benefits.

Annapurna Yojana Row Escalates

With protests continuing over eligibility, delayed payments and beneficiary lists, the Annapurna Yojana has emerged as a major political flashpoint in West Bengal.

The latest clash between Banerjee and Adhikari has added another dimension to the dispute, shifting the focus from welfare payments to allegations of political intimidation and restrictions on opposition leaders.