'Cong gained from MNREGA funds'

Continuing its tirade against the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS), the government on Friday said it has decided to give priority to 200-odd backward districts for fund allocation to stop blatant misuse of public funds for political patronage.

Rural development ministry officials said independent studies by eminent persons have shown the Congress' vote share rose considerably in the 2009 general elections in districts were fund allocated under the scheme was maximum.