During the 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog held on Saturday in New Delhi, several non-BJP Chief Ministers voiced strong and varied demands, highlighting issues ranging from fund allocation and cooperative federalism to inter-state water disputes and resource rights. The meeting, themed ‘Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat@2047’, was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who emphasized the need to work as "Team India" to build a developed India by 2047.
Key Highlights from the Meeting:
1. Tamil Nadu – MK Stalin
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Urged the Centre to release ₹2,200 crore under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
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Criticized the Centre for linking funds to the ‘PM Shri’ scheme MoU, saying it undermines cooperative federalism.
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Called for increasing states’ share in central taxes to 50%.
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Sought a dedicated urban transformation mission for Tamil Nadu.
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Emphasized that children’s education should not suffer due to political disagreements.
2. Telangana – Revanth Reddy
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First Telangana CM in years to attend the NITI Aayog meeting.
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Proposed a national task force under the PM to tap the economic potential of India’s top 6 metros: Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
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Emphasized inclusive development and highlighted Hyderabad's contribution of 2.5% to national GDP, despite its smaller size.
3. Punjab – Bhagwant Mann
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Strongly opposed the Centre’s “biased” stance on Bhakra dam management and water sharing with Haryana.
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Rejected the idea of sharing Punjab’s water, stating no surplus exists.
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Urged for the Yamuna-Sutlej-Link canal as an alternative to the SYL project.
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Criticized the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) for alleged discrimination.
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Highlighted Punjab’s heavy reliance on groundwater for irrigation.
4. Andhra Pradesh – N Chandrababu Naidu
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Suggested forming three sub-groups on:
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GDP growth (boosting investments and jobs)
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Population management (addressing ageing and fertility)
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Artificial Intelligence
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Called for viability gap funding for PPP infrastructure projects.
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Reaffirmed support for fast-tracking the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
5. Himachal Pradesh – Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
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Demanded pending central funds be released promptly.
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Urged the Centre to relax eligibility norms for hill states in central schemes.
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Emphasized that timely funds would help Himachal become self-reliant.
6. Jharkhand – Hemant Soren
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Demanded amendment to the Coal Bearing Areas (CBA) Act to mandate the return of land post-mining.
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Claimed ₹1.40 lakh crore in dues from mining companies for unpaid land compensation.
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Proposed mandatory captive power plants for mining firms, with 30% of power used within Jharkhand to boost local employment.
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Highlighted the energy potential of coal-based methane gas.
Notable Absentees:
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Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, and West Bengal (Mamata Banerjee) skipped the meeting.
Broader Message:
While PM Modi emphasized cooperation and unity, the meeting saw intense advocacy from non-BJP states demanding more financial autonomy, equitable resource distribution, and inclusion in national planning. The event marked a significant post-Operation Sindoor engagement between the Centre and states, reinforcing both tensions and opportunities within India's federal structure.
