Agartala, 11th September 2026 : Allegations of political interference in the implementation of MGNREGA work have surfaced at Chhantail Gram Panchayat under Chandipur Block in Kailashahar, with a Congress panchayat member claiming that workers in an opposition-held ward were being deprived of their legitimate employment opportunities.
The 13-member Chhantail Gram Panchayat has 11 BJP members and two Congress members. Congress representatives Rakib Ali and Shahida Begum were elected from Ward No. 2.
According to Rakib Ali, MGNREGA work had recently been sanctioned for seven days in Wards 2, 3 and 6, and workers had already completed four days of work. However, when workers from Ward No. 2 arrived at the worksite on Friday morning, they were reportedly informed that work had been suspended.
Ali said he contacted the Panchayat Pradhan, who cited a software problem in the MGNREGA portal as the reason for the stoppage. However, Ali claimed that work was continuing in Wards 3 and 6 when he later visited the Panchayat office with the workers.
He further alleged that the stoppage in Ward No. 2 was based on a complaint submitted by local BJP leader and former panchayat member Atahur Rahman. According to Ali, the complaint contained Rahman’s signature and the allegedly forged signatures of six MGNREGA workers.
Ali claimed that five of the six workers whose signatures were allegedly forged had worked for four days and had also reported for work on Friday. He also alleged that the sixth person did not possess either a ration card or a job card under Chhantail Gram Panchayat.
The workers reportedly waited at the Panchayat office until afternoon but could not meet the Pradhan, Upa-Pradhan or Secretary. Panchayat sources said the officials were attending an official programme scheduled to continue throughout Friday.
Ali warned that if the matter was not resolved by Friday evening, an indefinite lockdown of the Panchayat office would be launched on Saturday.
