Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the eighth council meeting for Niti Aayog today at the Convention Centre located in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The meeting will revolve around the theme of ‘Viksit Bharat @2047: Role of Team India.’

However, notable absenteeism is expected as eight chief ministers have chosen not to attend the Niti Aayog meeting. Rajasthan’s chief minister Ashok Gehlot cited health reasons and Kerela CM Vijayan has not given specific reason for his absence. CM Arvind Kejriwal had announced a boycott of the meeting in a letter to PM Modi over Centre’s recent ordinance and charged that cooperative federalism in India has become a ‘jke’.

Mamata Banerjee, Nitish Kumar, Bhagwatt Mann, Chandrashekhar Rao, and MK Stalin, won’t be attending this meeting. They have their own different sets of reasons due to which they have decided to skip this meeting. 

This development highlights the ongoing political dynamics and differing ideologies among states and the central government. It also reflects the varying priorities and engagements of these chief ministers within their respective regions. The absence of these opposition chief ministers from the meeting could potentially impact the overall dynamics and discussions concerning the nation’s development agenda.

Nonetheless, the meeting will proceed with the participation of several other chief ministers, central ministers, and senior government officials, aiming to deliberate on key issues and devise strategies for India’s progress towards the envisioned vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.