The NITI Aayog is meeting for the fourth time in the last four years and the General Council meeting is scheduled for two days from June 16. The meeting is important as it decides on the devolution of funds from the Central government to the States that would have impact on the State’s finances for the next one year. The meeting is so important that the flow of funds from the Central government is decided here, including allocation to various heads.

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The meeting is also important for Andhra Pradesh, which is fighting on the bifurcation issues. Locked in the midst of the fight on bifurcation issues, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had the greater opportunity at the right time to speak on the concerns of the State at the meeting. The inaugural session is likely to be addressed by its chairman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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Chandrababu Naidu who had been making hue and cry over the bifurcation issues and the Centre-State relations, particularly in the light of the terms of reference given to the 15th Finance Commission. The Chief Minister had raised his objections to the terms of reference given to the finance commission and wanted the Central government to keep 1971 censes as criteria for devolution of funds and not 2011 census. The Chief Minister’s concern was that the 2011 censes would make a huge cut into the funds to the States which have implemented population control measures since 1971 and are set to lose heavily.

The NITI Aayog meeting is an opportunity for Chandrababu Naidu to raise the concerns of the State. However, he is skipping the meeting on the pretext of attending the Iftar party to please the dominant Muslim community. After severing ties with the BJP, Chandrababu Naidu is focusing on winning the hearts of the Muslim community for the next round of general elections. It is for this reason, he is staying back skipping the NITI Aayog meeting for the crucial inaugural session and the subsequent sessions on the first day. Chandrababu Naidu had decided to be attend the meeting only from the afternoon of second day, June 17, as he also has some meeting with the Muslims on the day before leaving for Delhi.


By skipping the NITI Aayog meeting and preferring to be present in the Iftar meetings, Chandrababu Naidu is clear that vote catching is more important to him than raising the issues of the State at the national forum.



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