• D for development replaced by D for dole in the state budget
• The cash-strapped Mamata Banerjee government announced a slew of schemes for enlarging the pool of beneficiaries ahead of the Lok Sabha polls
• Among the major announcements made on Thursday was an additional four per cent of dearness allowance for state employees, separate funds for fishermen, increase in financial assistance for women under Lakshmi Bhandar, trainee apprentices, artisans and weavers as well as 50 days minimum work guarantee for job card holders
  
• A special centre for minorities culture development has also been proposed
• The minister of state for finance (independent) Chandrima Bhattacharya also announced the state government was considering revising the provisions of land ceiling under the West Bengal land and land reforms act
• "This budget seems to have been prepared keeping the Assembly polls in mind, not the Lok Sabha. Whoever forms the next government in Bengal will be in deep trouble," said Ashok Lahiri, economist and BJP MLA from Balurghat

This is a Breaking News.