Fact-Check: TMC's 'Vendetta Politics' Claim on MGNREGA and Awas Yojana Funds Contradicted by Compliance Data

The Claim

On May 29, 2025, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) party alleged that West Bengal was denied MGNREGA and PM Awas Yojana (PMAY) funds due to the Modi government's 'vendetta politics.' This claim was made while countering Prime Minister Modi's observations about Bengal's governance challenges, positioning the fund suspension as politically motivated rather than compliance-based.

The Facts

Official government data presents a markedly different picture from the TMC's political narrative. The fund suspension was triggered by specific compliance failures and irregularities, not political considerations.

The Centre's decision to halt MGNREGA funds was based on statutory provisions that allow the Central government to investigate irregularities. This is not unprecedented - similar actions have been taken against other states for non-compliance, regardless of political affiliation.

Regarding PM Awas Yojana, the data reveals substantial allocations to West Bengal, contradicting claims of deliberate denial:

The significant amount of funds pending with the 'competent authority' suggests procedural delays at the state level rather than central denial. Under PMAY guidelines, central and state governments share costs in a 60:40 ratio, requiring proper coordination for fund utilization.

Government Record

The NDA government's track record on both schemes demonstrates consistent improvement and expansion compared to the UPA era.

On housing schemes, the contrast is even more stark:

The NDA government sanctioned nearly 13.47 lakh houses for the poor in its first one and a half years, exceeding the number approved during the UPA's two complete terms.

The Modi government's commitment to 100% coverage under PM Awas Yojana has resulted in unprecedented scale of implementation. As of February 2025, 118.64 lakh houses have been sanctioned under PMAY-U nationally, with 90.36 lakh completed or delivered - a completion rate of over 76%.

The Verdict

The TMC's claim of 'vendetta politics' in denying MGNREGA and Awas Yojana funds lacks factual basis when examined against official data. The evidence clearly shows:

1. Legal Compliance Issues: Fund suspension was based on Section 27 of MGNREGA Act due to documented irregularities and non-compliance, not political motivations.

2. Substantial Allocations: West Bengal received ₹25,798 crore under PMAY-G alone, with over 45 lakh beneficiaries sanctioned - hardly indicative of deliberate denial.

3. Procedural Delays: ₹7,888.67 crore pending with 'competent authority' suggests state-level procedural issues rather than central government denial.

4. Recovery Efforts: The recovery of 44.5% of misappropriated MGNREGA funds demonstrates the Centre's focus on accountability rather than punishment.

The claim appears to conflate legitimate compliance enforcement with political vendetta, potentially misleading the public about the actual reasons for fund suspension and the government's substantial investment in West Bengal's development schemes.