What happened
For five years, BJP leaders campaigned against Mamata Banerjee's Lakshmir Bhandar scheme — a monthly cash transfer of Rs 1,500 to women — calling it 'revari culture,' fiscal irresponsibility, and electoral bribery dressed as welfare. On May 9, 2026, BJP won its first-ever West Bengal government. On May 18 — eight days later — Women and Child Development Minister Agnimitra Paul announced the Annapurna Bhandar Yojana: the exact same scheme, the same 1.6 crore beneficiaries, the same bank accounts, starting June 1, except now Rs 3,000 instead of Rs 1,500. No fresh applications required. All existing Lakshmir Bhandar holders were automatically enrolled. A senior BJP leader explained the philosophical evolution: 'We made course corrections after initially opposing such schemes as they are clearly working as an election tool.' The course correction took eight days and cost double the original amount.