Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, May 24: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said if the Union government and States work together like Team India, no goal will be impossible.
Presiding over the Niti Aayog’s 10th Governing Council meeting, Mr Modi stressed the importance of cooperative federalism and joint action between the Centre and the states and emphasised the need for increasing the pace of development. “We have to increase the speed of development. If the Centre and all the States come together and work together like Team India, no goal is impossible,” he said.
The theme of the Governing Council meeting this year is ‘Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat@2047.’ The idea of Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat is a call for states to craft bold, long-term, and inclusive vision documents aligned with national priorities yet grounded in local realities. . “Viksit Bharat is the goal of every Indian. When every state is Viksit, then Bharat will be Viksit. This is the aspiration of its 140 crore citizens,” Modi said.
The council of NITI Aayog includes all state chief ministers, lieutenant governors of Union Territories, and several Union ministers. This was the first major interaction of the Prime Minister with chief ministers and LGs of all states after the launch of Operation Sindoor.
Among the opposition leaders present were Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, and Telangana CM Revanth Reddy. Their participation drew attention as it marked a rare public interaction between the Prime Minister and key opposition figures. However, two prominent southern opposition leaders – Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan – did not attend the meeting.
Mr Modi delivered his opening remarks at the start of the NITI Aayog meeting after which the session on interventions by Chief Ministers /LGs/ Administrators on agenda items commenced, moderated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The agenda items for the Governing Council meeting include a push for ‘Viksit Rajya; promoting entrepreneurship, employment and skilling; and MSME employment, among other issues.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu showcased the state’s remarkable socio-economic progress over the past decade, reaffirming its pivotal role in realising Mr Modi’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. Mr Khandu reaffirmed Arunachal Pradesh’s vision to become resilient, empowered, and prosperous, contributing significantly to a developed India characterised by sustainable industrial growth, youth and women empowerment, world-class infrastructure, innovation leadership, and environmental stewardship.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis tweeted, “PMs inspiring message on Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat 2047 reminds us that when the centre and state works together as one team, no goal is out of reach. Maharashtra is fully committed towards moving forward with Team India for the progress of our nation.”
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin sought the Centre to enhance the state’s share in central taxes to 50 per cent and also underscored the necessity for a dedicated urban transformation mission in the state.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu proposed forming three sub – groups on GDP growth, population management and leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Chief Minister noted that the sub – groups of states formed in collaboration with the Centre should work towards fast-tracking Viksit Bharat – 2047 (developed India) vision.
“The first sub-group on GDP growth aims to boost investments, manufacturing, exports and job creation, supported by Central viability gap funding for PPP projects,” said a TDP press release, quoting Naidu.
On the sidelines of the Niti Aayog meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met several political leaders from across the country. From Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to N Chandrababu Naidu and M K Stalin to Bhagwant Mann.
Generally, the full council meeting happens every year, and last year, it was held on July 27. The first meeting of the council took place on February 8, 2015.
Photographs and videos from the event have been widely shared on social media, showing Prime Minister Modi engaging with various chief ministers. In one widely circulated image, he is seen shaking hands with Revanth Reddy, with Hemant Soren and Bhagwant Mann also present in the frame. Another photo captured PM Modi sharing tea and conversation with MK Stalin and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu.
