India, May 17 -- SC's DA arrears order may strain Bengal's finances, threatening key welfare schemes before elections.

KOLKATA: Friday's Supreme Court Division Bench order, asking the West Bengal government to pay 25% of the Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears to its employees within three months, could deliver a crushing blow to Mamata Banerjee's politics of dole. According to the state's lead advocate, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, the total DA arrears the state is liable to pay amounts to a "back-breaking Rs 40,000 crore." Therefore, the state must pay Rs 10,000 crore by August-a daunting task for a debt-ridden state like West Bengal.

Since Banerjee ousted the Left Front in 2011, a range of welfare schemes has played a significant role in ensur...