TMC says Union Govt not releasing funds to West Bengal amounts to deliberate financial strangulation

Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government of abandoning the people of West Bengal in their time of need, the Trinamool Congress on Wednesday (October 22, 2025) said that the Centre’s failure to release funds to the State amounted to deliberate financial strangulation.

West Bengal’s ruling party said that while funds were being provided to Maharashtra and Karnataka to alleviate the flood crisis, food devastated by West Bengal was being left out.

“Modi-Shah combine is weaponizing federal funds as revenge for the humiliation they suffered in Bengal in 2021. While the Center has released ₹13,603.20 crore from SDRF and ₹2,189.28 crore from NDRF to other states this year, Bengal is conspicuously absent from this list. Political grudge is being exercised in the name of governance,” TMC wrote on social media. shared in the media

Floods triggered by heavy rains had ravaged many parts of North Bengal on October 5, killing more than 30 people and displacing thousands. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the region twice, inspected rescue and relief operations and accused the State BJP leadership of indulging in politics instead of standing with the people.

“As North Bengal reels from devastating floods and landslides that have devastated lives, homes and livelihoods, the Center remains silent and refuses even a single rupee aid to our state. HM @AmitShah rushed Rs 1,950.80 crore to Maharashtra and Karnataka to extinguish the flood crisis, but still left Bengal out in the cold,” TMC said.

The accusation against the Union Government comes months ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled to be held in 2026 in the state. Over the past few years, the Trinamool Congress has accused the Center of not releasing funds due to the state. The Prime Minister has raised the issue many times and even wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi several times requesting that the funds be released to the State. Many central schemes like MGNREGA have come to a halt in the state after the Union government stopped funding following allegations of corruption in the implementation of the schemes.

The Trinamool Congress described the non-release of funds as “deliberate financial strangulation” and a “cruel, calculated attempt to make ordinary citizens pay for their democratic choices”. West Bengal ruling party said, “The motherly treatment you have given today will be repaid with the same medicine at the ballot box.”

Responding to the charge, State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said that there have been several cases where funds released by the Center were looted in the state. Mr. Bhattacharya also added that funds provided for various programs were also used by the West Bengal government.