Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, recently avoided answering questions regarding the pending Dearness Allowance (DA) during a press conference, despite a significant Supreme Court ruling in favor of state government employees. This ruling comes after nearly a decade-long legal battle over DA disputes, while the state government announced a 4% increase in DA as part of the interim budget. The tensions surrounding the DA payments have remained a pressing issue for many employees, especially given the prolonged legal struggles they have faced since 2017.

In response to questions about the DA case, Banerjee stated that she would not provide any comments on matters that are still under judicial review, leaving many employees and reporters frustrated by the lack of clarity on when the pending payments would actually be disbursed. This evasion highlights an ongoing theme in Banerjee's governance, where contentious issues remain unaddressed, prompting criticism from various stakeholders, including civil society groups.

Bhaskar Ghosh, a co-convener of a coalition fighting for the DA, expressed his disappointment in the Chief Minister's response and indicated the frustration of many affected government employees. The community's morale appears to be shaken as they grapple with the uncertainty of when they can expect to see the money they feel is rightfully theirs. As such, with the backdrop of Supreme Court decisions and ongoing fiscal discussions, the issue of DA remains a critical point of contention in West Bengal's political landscape.