Like previous issues such as the imaginary “limitation” and the so-called “Hindi imposition” in the NEP—both of which failed to gain traction among the Tamil Nadu populace—the ruling DMK government has now started accusing the Modi-led NDA government of withholding Rs 4,034 crore in wages meant for beneficiaries of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Hitting back at the Stalin government for misleading the public, BJP Tamil Nadu has sought a CBI probe into the implementation of the scheme and questioned why the DMK has not increased working days from 100 to 150 as promised in its 2021 Assembly election manifesto.
In a post on social media platform X, CM Stalin stated, “We wrote a letter requesting funds to pay salaries to the poor and needy working under the 100-day work programme; we met in person to insist; and we presented it in both houses of Parliament. Even after all this, the Union government’s heart of stone has not melted.”
On March 25, several opposition members staged a protest outside Parliament over the MGNREGA issue. DMK leaders have been amplifying this as a major issue by holding protests in the state, misleading illiterate and elderly individuals by blaming the Centre for their lack of work and wages.
Today, the DMK stood shoulder to shoulder with lakhs of rural #MGNREGS workers across 1,600 protest sites in Tamil Nadu, raising one thunderous question to the Union BJP Government: *#WhereIsOurMoney?*
*Denying funds meant for wages to those who toiled under the scorching sun is… pic.twitter.com/KuGcUPmtCZ
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 29, 2025
Taking serious note of these accusations and political blame game, BJP Tamil Nadu chief Annamalai, in a post on X, called for a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the scheme and demanded a white paper detailing the number of workdays, job types, people employed, funds received from the Centre, expenditure details, etc. He shared a series of posts along with tables to justify the Centre’s stand.
Tamil Nadu CM Thiru @mkstalin should answer the following questions:
Tamil Nadu has received a historically high allocation of Rs 39,339 crore from our Central Government under the leadership of our Hon. PM Thiru @narendramodi avl in the last four years under the MGNREGA Scheme. Thiru @mkstalin, since you have now been caught in a web of irregularities in the scheme’s execution, will you consent to a CBI probe to investigate the rampant corruption in Tamil Nadu? We have provided one sample village to highlight the scale of this corruption.
Are you aware that states with three to five times more rural population have received lesser funds than Tamil Nadu under the MGNREGA scheme?
When do you plan to fulfil the election promise of increasing MGNREGA workdays from 100 to 150?
Thiru @mkstalin, your party has looted funds meant for our hardworking people. The DMK is not just corrupt; it is conniving, cruel, divisive, and deceitful.
Tamil Nadu CM Thiru @mkstalin should answer the following questions.
1)Tamil Nadu has received a historically high allocation of ₹39,339 Crores from our Central Government under the able leadership of our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl in the last four years under the MGNREGA… pic.twitter.com/BI9jeo6XCk
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) March 30, 2025
In an attached document titled “MGNREGA Irregularities in One Panchayat in Erode District, Tamil Nadu”, Annamalai states: “Since the DMK government came to power, MGNREGA has been used for political purposes. Wages have been paid to individuals who attended DMK public meetings and even to those who never turned up for work. Hardworking people are suffering due to these DMK irregularities.”
In the last four years, the central government has transferred a total of Rs 3,60,505 crore under MGNREGA. Of this, ten states received Rs 2,57,432 crore. The amount allocated to Tamil Nadu alone is equivalent to the combined funds given to Maharashtra (Rs 12,065 crore), Telangana (Rs 14,424 crore), and Chhattisgarh (Rs 13,444 crore). Tamil Nadu has received the highest allocation under this scheme in the country.
Continuation… (3/4) pic.twitter.com/xk7fCuiPo7
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) March 30, 2025
The total funds transferred to Tamil Nadu over the last four years amount to Rs 39,339 crore—more than what Uttar Pradesh and Bihar received, despite having significantly higher rural populations. The allocation to Tamil Nadu and Kerala is abnormally high, considering their lower rural populations and the fact that Tamil Nadu is supposedly an industrialised state. Even on a per capita basis, Tamil Nadu has received five times more than Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
தமிழ்நாட்டின் ஈரோடு மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ள ஒரு பஞ்சாயத்தில் MGNREGA நூறு நாள் வேலைத் திட்டத்தில் நடைபெற்றுள்ள முறைகேடு. (2/4) pic.twitter.com/COaCLHFJCi
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) March 30, 2025
The recent outstanding dues for each state reveal the actual reason behind these discrepancies. Of the overall dues pending for Tamil Nadu, 74% are wages—completely opposite to the national average.
Continuation… (4/4) pic.twitter.com/581Md6UpZn
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) March 30, 2025
Between 2021 and 2024, Uttar Pradesh (with a rural population of 24 crore) received Rs 38,000 crore under MGNREGA, while Tamil Nadu (with a rural population of just 8.5 crore) received Rs 39,339 crore. This raises serious concerns about the misuse of funds and suggests that more people in Tamil Nadu are opting for low-wage jobs under MGNREGA instead of higher-paid employment in other sectors.
Annamalai remarked, “The amount allocated to Tamil Nadu and Kerala is abnormally high, considering their lower rural populations and the fact that Tamil Nadu is supposedly an industrially developed state. The funds received by Tamil Nadu are equivalent to the combined allocations of Maharashtra (Rs 12,065 crore), Telangana (Rs 14,424 crore), and Chhattisgarh (Rs 13,444 crore). Even on a per capita basis, Tamil Nadu has received five times more than Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.”
100 நாள் வேலை திட்டத்திற்கு மத்திய அரசு மக்களுக்கு வழங்கிய பணத்தில் மிகப்பெரிய ஊழல் செய்துள்ளது திமுக அரசு..! pic.twitter.com/QLlRlJXcXW
— BJP Tamilnadu (@BJP4TamilNadu) March 31, 2025
Advocate and writer KS Radhakrishnan highlighted a media report exposing the misappropriation of Rs 112 crore in MGNREGA funds in Virudhunagar, revealed through an RTI reply.
விருதுநகர் மாவட்டத்தில் மகாத்மா காந்தி தேசிய ஊரக வேலை உறுதித்திட்டத்தில் ரூ 112 கோடி முறைகேடு செய்யப்பட்டது தொடர்பான நம்முடைய RTI தகவல் தொடர்பான செய்தி
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நன்றி
New Indian Express & Harini pic.twitter.com/McstYHXHKO— K.S.Radhakrishnan (@KSRadhakrish) March 30, 2025
YouTuber Savukku Shankar also commented on the issue, stating, “There is large-scale and systematic corruption in the MGNREGA scheme in Tamil Nadu. A full-fledged audit will reveal the scam. Is @CMOTamilnadu ready to conduct such an audit?”
There is large scale and systematic corruption in the MGNREGS scheme in TN. A full fledged audit will reveal the scam. Is @CMOTamilnadu ready to conduct such an audit ? https://t.co/tcBzBm80sq
— Savukku Shankar (@SavukkuOfficial) March 30, 2025
Recent field visits to various locations by Organiser correspondent revealed that many of the workers under the scheme were over the age of 60. IT has been observed that after Aadhaar verification, they would either chat, play games, or sleep, only to disperse by noon. In some places, they attended a roll call, took attendance, and then left to do personal work. Critics question whether the government can cite even a single area where work has been properly completed. Some argue that most beneficiaries are proxies for officials and politicians and that the scheme should either be scrapped or strictly monitored to ensure unemployed youth benefit instead.
The BJP Tamil Nadu had previously exposed DMK’s corruption through its Corruption Files I, II, and III. With the Enforcement Directorate now probing the Rs 1,000 crore TASMAC scam, MGNREGA irregularities, and allegations against TNCC chief Selva Perunthagai in the sanitation workers’ scam, a committed investigation into these cases could create a significant backlash for the DMK before the 2026 elections.
However, in Tamil Nadu, corruption has historically not been a decisive electoral issue, as voters have often been swayed by caste, religion, sentiments, emotions, and election-time cash distributions.
