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 hour of need, the Trinamool Congress on Wednesday (October 22, 2025) said that Centre not releasing funds to the State amounts to deliberate financial strangulation.

The West Bengal’s ruling party said that while funds have been made available to Maharashtra and Karnataka to douse their flood crisis, yet left food ravaged West Bengal has been left out in the cold.

“The Modi-Shah combine is weaponising federal funds as revenge for the humiliation they suffered in Bengal in 2021. While the Centre released ₹13,603.20 crore from SDRF and ₹2,189.28 crore from NDRF to other states this year, Bengal remains conspicuously absent from that list. Political spite is being practised in the name of governance,’ the TMC posted on social media

Floods triggered by torrential rains had ravaged several districts of North Bengal on October 5, leaving more than 30 dead and thousands displaced. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had visited the region twice, oversaw rescue and relief operations and accused the State BJP leadership of indulging in politics instead of standing by the people.

“While North Bengal reels from catastrophic floods and landslides that have ravaged lives, homes and livelihoods, the Centre sits silent, refusing even a single rupee of relief to our state. HM @AmitShah rushed ₹1,950.80 crore to Maharashtra and Karnataka to douse their flood crisis, yet left Bengal out in the cold,” the TMC said.

The charge against the Union Government comes months before the Assembly polls in the State which is scheduled in 2026. Over the past several years the Trinamool Congress has accused the Centre of not releasing funds due to the state. The Chief Minister has repeatedly raised the issue and has even written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on several occasions demanding the release of funds to the State. Several central schemes like MGNREGA have come to a halt in the State after the Union government has stopped releasing funds on allegations of corruption in the implementation of the schemes.

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

Responding to the charge, State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said that there have been several instances where funds released by the Centre have been looted in the State. Mr. Bhattacharya also added that funds to several schemes have also been lying utilised by the West Bengal government.