Modi’s Bengal victory may pave way for Centre’s flagship schemes:Ayushman Bharat, Labour Codes poised for implementation after big BJP win

In a historic vote, the people of West Bengal has put the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) firmly in the driving seat. The saffron party swept the 2026 elections, comfortably crossing the 147 majority mark to form the new government, hours before the counting ended on 4 May. With the Trinamool Congress (TMC) out of power, the deadlock between the state and the Centre over the implementing of central schemes will be a thing of the past, as a new BJP-led government takes the reign. For example, the Modi govt’s flagship Ayushman Bharat and Four New Labour Codes could be rolled out soon. 1. Ayushman Bharat: Free Healthcare for Lakhs For several years, West Bengal did not fully adopt the central government’s flagship health insurance program, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), also known as Ayushman Bharat. With the change in leadership, lakhs of families in the state are now expected to receive Ayushman Cards to access free healthcare. Albeit, some citizens in the erstwhile TMC-ruled state were able to avail off the benefits under the Centre’s flagship universal scheme for the impoverished in the hospitals that come under the Central Government. But now, if the new government notifies it, then, citizens would be able to avail features of this scheme in state government hospitals as well. Key Features of the Scheme: Massive Insurance Cover: Each eligible family gets health insurance of ₹5 lakh per year. This money covers expensive treatments at both government and private hospitals. Cashless Treatment: Patients do not need to pay cash at the hospital. They simply show their Ayushman Card, and the government pays the bill directly to the hospital. Special Benefit for Seniors: Additionally, all senior citizens aged 70 and above are eligible for the ₹5 lakh cover, regardless of their family income. 2. New Labour Codes: The Central Government had introduced four new Labour Codes, earlier. Since, labour is a state subject. Any law pertaining to labourers cannot come into force unless and until along with the Centre, the state governments also notify the new laws in their respective states. West Bengal and Lakshwadeep are the only states and Union Territories in the entire country that have not even pre-published any of the four labour codes. But now, with a BJP-led government in Bengal, these rules are expected to be implemented, finally. Key Features of the Four Codes: The Code on Wages: This ensures that every worker in every industry gets a minimum wage. It also mandates that men and women must be paid the same amount for the same work. The Code on Social Security: For the first time, benefits like insurance and pensions will be extended to gig workers like delivery partners and platform workers. The Industrial Relations Code: This is designed to make it easier for businesses to operate while protecting workers. The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code: This focuses on the health of the worker. It mandates free annual medical check-ups for employees over the age of 40 and ensures better safety standards at factories and offices. What This Means for Bengal’s Business and Economy? The implementation of these schemes is expected to change the business climate in West Bengal. For the common man, Ayushman Bharat will drastically reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses, which often push families into poverty. Although the outgoing CM Mamata Banerjee had implemented an alternative health scheme – the state-run Swasthya Sathi scheme. Would be interesting to see whether both of these schemes would run simultaneously or not. As the counting of votes concluded on 4 May, the focus now shifts to how fast the new administration will roll out these central policies to the people of West Bengal.