Archive · 29 Oct 2025
TMC Accuses Centre of Double Standards on MGNREGA Funds
Imagine a government program that guarantees 100 days of work for people in rural areas.
This program was paused in West Bengal for over three years.
Recently, a big court said the program should start again.
After this, leaders from West Bengal's ruling party, the TMC, held a press conference.
They said the national government (led by the BJP) is being unfair.
They pointed out that in West Bengal, the government stopped the program because of about 8 crore rupees that weren't spent correctly.
But, they claim, in other states, especially those ruled by the BJP, much more money was misused – like 71 crore in Gujarat and 49 crore in Uttar Pradesh – but the national government didn't stop the program there.
The TMC leaders feel this shows the BJP is treating West Bengal unfairly and hurting poor people.
They hope the program will now run smoothly and threatened that people will respond in the next election if justice isn't served.
The Trinamul Congress (TMC) has accused the Centre of double standards regarding MGNREGA funds, particularly concerning West Bengal.
TMC highlighted that the Supreme Court dismissed the Centre's petition challenging the Calcutta High Court's order for MGNREGA's resumption in Bengal.
West Bengal's alleged misappropriation of MGNREGA funds was cited as around Rs 8 crore, leading to a three-year halt of the scheme.
TMC contrasted this with much larger alleged misappropriations in Gujarat (Rs 71 crore), Uttar Pradesh (approx. Rs 49 crore), Bihar (Rs 17.76 crore), and Maharashtra (Rs 15.20 crore) without similar consequences.
TMC leaders believe the Centre's actions were punitive and part of an 'anti-Bengal' stance, potentially impacting poor workers and influencing future elections.
- Who
- Trinamul Congress (TMC) leaders, including minister Pradip Mazumdar and Birbaha Hansda, the Union government (BJP), the Supreme Court of India, the Calcutta High Court.
- What
- The Trinamul Congress has accused the central government of exhibiting double standards in withholding MGNREGA funds from West Bengal while allegedly overlooking larger fund misappropriations in other BJP-ruled states. They highlight the Supreme Court's dismissal of the Centre's appeal against the resumption of the scheme in Bengal.
- When
- Tuesday (press meet), Monday (Supreme Court decision), following a Calcutta High Court order, with ongoing issues over the last three years and specific fund usage over six years (2016-17 to 2021-22).
- Where
- West Bengal, India
- Why
- The TMC alleges that the Centre unfairly withheld MGNREGA funds from West Bengal due to smaller alleged financial irregularities (around Rs 8 crore) compared to other states like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra, where much larger amounts were reportedly misappropriated without similar punitive actions. They claim this action deprived the poor in Bengal and was part of the BJP's 'anti-Bengal' stance.
Trinamul Congress (TMC)
Union Government (BJP)
Handling of MGNREGA Fund Irregularities
Trinamul Congress (TMC)
The Centre exhibited double standards by withholding funds and halting the MGNREGA scheme in West Bengal for smaller alleged irregularities (approx. Rs 8 crore) while overlooking significantly larger misappropriations in other states, including BJP-ruled ones like Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
Union Government (BJP)
The Centre acted to ensure compliance with financial norms, which led to the scheme being put on hold in West Bengal following identified financial irregularities. (The article implies the Centre's actions were based on findings from central teams).
Impact of Fund Withholding on Bengal
Trinamul Congress (TMC)
The Centre's actions deprived the poor people of West Bengal of potential earnings (estimated at Rs 50.44 crore) and demonstrated an 'anti-Bengal' stance, potentially influencing electoral outcomes.
Union Government (BJP)
The article does not directly provide the Union Government's perspective on the impact on Bengal's poor, focusing instead on the TMC's accusations.
Political Motivation
Trinamul Congress (TMC)
The Centre's approach to West Bengal was politically motivated, designed to penalize the state and its ruling party, despite evidence of greater financial mismanagement elsewhere.
Union Government (BJP)
The article does not directly present the BJP's stated political motivations, but implies their actions were based on financial oversight rather than political vendetta, according to the TMC's interpretation of the Centre's approach.
- Scheme
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
- West Bengal Fund Discrepancy Cited by Centre
- Rs 6.03 crore (not conventionally used over six years)
- West Bengal Additional Discrepancy Cited by TMC
- Rs 26 lakh (additional, found by national-level monitoring team)
- Total Misappropriation Alleged by Centre for Bengal
- Approx. Rs 8 crore (combining central team and social audit findings)
- Misappropriation Alleged in Gujarat
- Rs 71 crore
- Misappropriation Alleged in Uttar Pradesh
- Approx. Rs 49 crore (2021-22 to 2023-24)
- Misappropriation Alleged in Bihar
- Rs 17.76 crore
- Misappropriation Alleged in Maharashtra
- Rs 15.20 crore
