Mamata Banerjee and a delegation of Trinamul Congress MPs who will accompany her are likely to place a demand for the release of more than Rs 15,000 crore under three rural development schemes — funds for which have been stopped by the Centre over the past one year — during their meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.

Sources in the Bengal government said the Centre owed more than Rs 1 lakh crore under various schemes to the state. But the chief minister and the MPs are likely to focus on the release of central funds under the 100-day job scheme, and projects for roads and housing for the poor, said the sources.

“The delegation is likely to place a demand for the release of Rs 450 crore under the rural roads scheme (PMGSY), Rs 8,200 crore under the project for housing for rural poor (PMAY) and Rs 6,800 crore under 100 days’ job scheme (MGNREGA). The issue of pending funds of more than Rs 1 lakh crore will definitely be raised, but the focus will be on the three rural development schemes,” said a senior bureaucrat.

Another official explained that if the funds for the rural development schemes were added to the dues, the demand for the projects that connect common people might get diluted.

“So, the stress this time will be on three rural development schemes. This will give an upper hand to Trinamul ahead of the Lok Sabha polls,” said a senior government official.

Trinamul insiders said it would be a smart move if the stress was laid on three rural development schemes while placing the demand for the release of funds immediately during the meeting with the Prime Minister.

“Common people are suffering since the Centre has stopped the release of funds under these schemes. We noticed that the agitation led by the party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee demanding the release of the central funds touched the nerves of villagers,” said a Trinamul MLA.

Another ruling party MLA said it was time to up the ante against the Centre again on the pending funds under the rural development projects as the party’s agitation stopped abruptly after Durga Puja.

“If we want to make the issue alive ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, we need to start an agitation on the issue once again. Placing the demand for the release of rural development funds appears to be the first step towards renewing the agitation,” said the MLA from Birbhum district.

Sources in the administration said Rs 1.15 lakh crore — which was sought previously — included funds for disaster management and portions of central taxes, which hardly had any connection with the daily lives of villagers.

A Trinamul insider said it was clear that the agitation led by Abhishek Banerjee had left the BJP in a spot as it had to field several central ministers, including rural development minister Giriraj Singh, to counter the allegations against the Centre.

As the party did not continue with the agitation, the BJP apparently heaved a sigh of relief.