West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sought a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi next week to discuss pending central dues owed to the state under various centrally-sponsored schemes.
According to sources from the state secretariat, a formal communication has been sent from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), with June 10 proposed as the preferred date for the appointment.
If the meeting is confirmed, CM Banerjee is expected to travel to Delhi on the night of June 9.
During her visit, she is also likely to meet with her party’s MPs from both Houses of Parliament.
However, insiders suggest she will probably avoid meeting any INDIA bloc leaders during this trip.
Pending Central Dues & State Concerns
The West Bengal government has been vocal about the non-receipt of approximately ₹1.75 lakh crore in pending funds from the Centre under several key schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
These funds are critical for ongoing housing and rural road development projects across the state.
In public rallies, CM Banerjee has consistently criticised the Union government for the delays, asserting that the lack of funds has hampered developmental work and impacted the welfare of the people of Bengal.
BJP’s Counter Allegations Of Corruption
Senior BJP leaders, including Amit Malviya, head of the party’s IT cell and central observer for West Bengal, have accused the state government of misusing funds released earlier under centrally-sponsored schemes.
Malviya claimed the Centre halted further releases due to blatant siphoning of funds.
Prime Minister Modi has also raised concerns about corruption in West Bengal, notably during a recent rally in Alipurduar district.
He accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leadership of rampant corruption that has deprived common people of basic services provided under central schemes.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah echoed these allegations during his political address in Kolkata last Sunday, continuing the BJP’s campaign against the TMC government over financial irregularities.
The pending dues issue and the ensuing political exchanges highlight the strained relations between the Bengal state government and the Union government.
CM Banerjee proposes meeting PM Modi to resolve the funding impasse while navigating the ongoing political rivalry between the BJP and TMC.
The outcome of this meeting could have important implications for West Bengal’s development projects and the broader central-state financial relations ahead of upcoming elections.
This report outlines the key details of CM Banerjee’s planned visit to Delhi and the political dynamics surrounding the issue of pending central funds to West Bengal.
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