Nitish Kumar Skips Niti Aayog Meet Chaired by PM Modi

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar did not attend the crucial Niti Aayog Governing Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting, held in Delhi, aimed to discuss various development issues and policy matters crucial for the country’s progress.

Background on Niti Aayog Meeting

PM Modi Chairs NITI Aayog Meet; Many Opposition CMs Skip — PM Modi Chairs NITI Aayog Meet Many Opposition CMs Skip

The Niti Aayog, India’s apex public policy think tank, convened its ninth Governing Council meeting on Saturday. This council includes the Prime Minister as Chairman, Chief Ministers of all states, Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories, and several Union Ministers.

Opposition Boycott

Several Opposition party chief ministers announced their decision to boycott the meeting. These included Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, and three Congress chief ministers: Siddaramaiah of Karnataka, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of Himachal Pradesh, and Revanth Reddy of Telangana.

Mamata Banerjee’s Participation

Despite the boycott by many, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a key member of the INDIA bloc, attended the meeting. However, she later claimed she was not allowed to speak and criticized the Union Budget as “politically biased.”

Nitish Kumar’s Absence

Bihar was represented by Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha in Nitish Kumar’s absence. The reasons for his non-attendance were not immediately clear, though sources suggested the approval of Puducherry’s budget proposals by the center influenced the decision.

BJP Chief Ministers’ Directive

Chief ministers from BJP-ruled states were instructed to highlight their government’s achievements during the meeting. They were also asked to present both performing and non-performing departments and schemes.

Mamata Banerjee’s Criticism

A day before the meeting, Mamata Banerjee called for scrapping the Niti Aayog and restoring the Planning Commission. She labeled the BJP as a “tukde-tukde platform” and emphasized that she would not allow her state to be divided.

The Niti Aayog meeting showcased the stark political divide in India, with several key opposition leaders choosing to boycott the session. Nitish Kumar’s absence and Mamata Banerjee’s criticism highlighted the ongoing tensions and differing views on the country’s development and policy directions.