Cash-for-benefits allegations have triggered political controversy across West Bengal, with local TMC leaders returning money to villagers while fresh questions emerge over irregularities in welfare scheme beneficiary lists.

The controversy surrounding alleged cash-for-benefits collections under government welfare schemes in West Bengal has intensified, with several local leaders linked to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) returning money to beneficiaries amid mounting public pressure and administrative scrutiny.

The issue has surfaced across multiple districts, including Cooch Behar, Murshidabad, Nadia and South 24 Parganas, where residents have accused local political functionaries of demanding money in exchange for facilitating access to housing and welfare scheme benefits.

Money Returned In Villages

In parts of Cooch Behar district, local leaders reportedly began returning money that had allegedly been collected as commission or "cut money" from beneficiaries. In the Ghughumari area, announcements were made through loudspeakers informing residents that the money would be returned.

A similar development was reported from Subhashpally in Mathabhanga, where commission allegedly collected from 14 beneficiaries of a housing scheme was returned. Local residents said the move came after increasing demands for accountability from villagers.

At Fakirer Kuthi under Pachgarh Gram Panchayat, booth president Tapan De reportedly handed back money to several villagers during a public gathering at a local school ground, a development that quickly drew political attention in the district.

Arrest In Murshidabad

The controversy took a more serious turn in Murshidabad district, where police arrested village deputy chief Sirajul Sheikh following complaints from residents of Nutangram.

According to villagers, amounts ranging between ₹5,000 and ₹15,000 were allegedly collected from beneficiaries under the Banglar Awas Yojana. After complaints were lodged, local authorities initiated action, leading to the arrest.

Officials have not publicly disclosed further details regarding the investigation, but the case has added to concerns over the implementation of welfare schemes at the grassroots level.

Namkhana Case Raises Questions

In Namkhana of South 24 Parganas district, money allegedly collected in the name of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana was also returned to villagers.

Gram Panchayat member Madhab Chandra Laya claimed he voluntarily returned ₹5,000 each to 45 villagers. He further alleged that the collections were made under political pressure and that senior panchayat functionaries and local leaders were aware of the practice.

No formal police complaint has been filed in connection with the allegations in Namkhana so far.

Irregularities In Lakshmir Bhandar

Separate concerns have emerged from Nadia district regarding the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, a flagship welfare programme intended for women beneficiaries.

Authorities found 173 men listed as beneficiaries in Dhubulia despite the scheme's eligibility criteria. Officials confirmed that funds had been withdrawn through these accounts between February and recent months before the discrepancy was identified.

District Magistrate Srikanta Palli said an inquiry was conducted and the names were subsequently removed from the beneficiary database.

The development has reignited debate over beneficiary verification mechanisms and data monitoring within welfare programmes.

Probe Commission Constituted

Amid the growing controversy, the state government on May 18 constituted an Institutional Commission to investigate allegations relating to cut-money practices, misuse of government funds and financial irregularities.

The commission will be headed by retired judge Bishwajit Basu. State authorities have indicated that citizens will be able to submit complaints directly once the commission becomes fully operational.

Officials believe the mechanism could provide a structured platform for examining grievances linked to welfare schemes and local governance.

Political Sparring Continues

The allegations have triggered sharp exchanges between the TMC and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

BJP leaders have accused local TMC functionaries of coercing villagers into making payments to access government benefits. They allege that beneficiaries were warned they could face delays or denial of services if they refused to pay.

The TMC, however, has distanced itself from the allegations. Party leaders in Cooch Behar said the organisation does not support any form of illegal collection and maintained that any individual found guilty would be personally accountable for their actions.

With investigations underway and political scrutiny intensifying, the cash-for-benefits controversy is likely to remain a significant issue in West Bengal's local governance and welfare administration landscape in the coming weeks.

Modi Fires Bengal Poll Salvo From Cooch Behar's Ras Mela Ground

BJP's 'Bijoy Sankalpa Sabha' marks PM's first campaign rally in West Bengal since assembly elections were announced; TMC governance, law and order in crosshairs

BJP Opens Bengal Battle

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday formally launched the Bharatiya Janata Party's election campaign in West Bengal, addressing a massive 'Bijoy Sankalpa Sabha' at the Ras Mela grounds in Cooch Behar — a district that has steadily emerged as one of the party's most reliable strongholds in the state's north.

The rally, scheduled at 4:15 pm, marked the PM's first election meeting in the state since poll dates were officially announced. It also constituted his fourth public meeting at the same Ras Mela grounds, having previously addressed gatherings there during the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha campaigns and the 2021 assembly polls.

TMC's Record on Trial

During the rally, Modi was expected to outline BJP's vision for a "developed West Bengal", highlight issues raised in the party's recently released 'People's Chargesheet' against the ruling Trinamool Congress, and press hard on governance failures, law and order deterioration, and allegations of corruption.

Party leaders framed the event as more than an electoral opener. According to a BJP statement, the Prime Minister's visit was "centred on transitioning West Bengal from an era of systemic 'bhoy' (fear) to a future of 'bhorosa' (trust)", and the rally was described as "a definitive launchpad to replace the chronicle of betrayal with a commitment to security and growth."

North Bengal: The Saffron Citadel

Cooch Behar was not an arbitrary choice. In the 2021 assembly elections, BJP won 30 of the 54 seats in north Bengal, with Cooch Behar contributing seven of the nine seats from the district. The region has delivered consistently for the party across electoral cycles, and BJP is keen to consolidate those gains with boots on the ground well before the April 23 first phase of polling.

Among the development projects highlighted in the district is a Rs 1,010-crore city gas distribution initiative, which party functionaries have been projecting as evidence of the Centre's commitment to the region.

Last Bengal Visit: March 14

Modi had last visited the state on March 14, when he addressed a major rally at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, marking the culmination of BJP's statewide 'Parivartan Yatra' campaign. During that visit, he inaugurated and laid foundation stones for infrastructure and connectivity projects worth approximately Rs 18,680 crore, including national highway developments valued at around Rs 16,990 crore, covering over 420 kilometres of road projects.

Campaign Machine Rolls On

The April 5 rally is set to be followed by a series of public meetings, roadshows, and organisational programmes by senior BJP leaders across the state ahead of the polls, as the party gears up for what it has described as a final push for a decisive mandate in Bengal.

Meanwhile, TMC has been mounting its counter-offensive. West Bengal minister Firhad Hakim, contesting from Kolkata Port constituency, warned that a BJP government in the state could damage local culture. "Hatred in politics is very wrong," he said, adding that the party's focus remained on development and direct engagement with voters.

Two-Phase Vote, May 4 Count

Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Legislative Assembly will be held in two phases — on April 23 and April 29 — with votes counted on May 4. The contest is shaping up as a direct, high-decibel clash between the BJP's national machinery and the TMC's incumbent organisational depth, with north Bengal expected to be among the most hotly contested stretches of the electoral map.

What to Watch Ahead

With Modi's Bengal poll campaign now officially underway, the coming days will see an escalating battle of narratives. BJP's central leadership — including Home Minister Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda — is expected to intensify its presence across the state. TMC, for its part, will rely heavily on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's personal campaign, with the CM herself contesting from Bhabanipur.

The Cooch Behar rally has set the tone: governance failures, alleged corruption, and the promise of a "fear-free" Bengal are expected to remain the core of BJP's message through the final weeks of campaigning before the West Bengal assembly elections 2026.