West Bengal goes to polls today:GDP grows 5 times in 15 years, but debt surges to ₹8 lakh crore under Didi’s rule

As West Bengal gears up for the first phase of another closely contested election on Thursday, the state’s economic performance under three-term Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is in focus. ‘Didi’ first came to power in 2011 on the plank of a new Bengal development model in a historic election that ended the 34-year Left rule in the state. Mamata ousted the then Bengal CM Budhadev Bhattacharya, a veteran Left politician who succeeded his predecessor Jyoti Basu. Bengel’s budget has risen five-fold since 2011 In 2011, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), fresh from its election victory, inherited nearly ₹2 lakh crore debt from the previous government. In February of the same year, the Bhattacharya-led government had presented a provisional budget of ₹77,510.72 crore for FY 2011-12. Now, after 15 years, the state budget for FY2026-27 has risen to ₹4.60 lakh crore, a five-fold increase since 2011. GSDP has grown to ₹21.48 lakh crore since 2011-12 The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), which measures the state’s total value of goods and services produced, rose nearly five times. In 2025-26, the GSDP is projected to surge to ₹21.48 lakh crore This shows the Bengal economy has grown significantly over the years, despite ballooning debt, a talking point for many economists and opposition leaders. Bengal’s annual per capita income rises to ₹1,71,184 In 2011, Bengal’s per capita income was roughly ₹51,500. In 2024-25, however, it rose to ₹1,71,184. While the per capita income has risen steadily, it still lags behind the national average of around ₹2,11,725. Unemployment is a big issue Employment remains the most hotly debated topic in the current election. Data from the central government’s Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) shows that in 2011, the state’s unemployment rate was 4.5%. However, in 2025, the same survey pegged it at 3.6%. The unemployment figures are in line with the country’s national average, but critics argue, if there’s unemployment, then why do many people migrate to other states for work? Bengal’s debt has surged four times in 15 years: According to FY 2025-26 budget estimates, the state’s total debt rose more than fourfold to nearly ₹8 lakh crore from around ₹1.87 lakh crore in FY2012. 2026 Bengal polls: Key data points West Bengal Elections will be held in two phases on 23 and 29 April for the 294-member West Bengal Legislative Assembly. The votes will be declared on 4 May. Key Candidate