As Oppn CMs announce boycott of NITI Aayog meet, Mamata postpones Delhi visit by a day

Visit postponed from Thursday to Friday, party sources say no reason given. NITI Aayog meeting to be held in Delhi on Saturday.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. (File Photo)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday postponed her visit to Delhi for the NITI Aayog meeting from Thursday to Friday.

The meeting itself is to be held on Saturday, July 27.

Banerjee’s decision, according to sources in her party Trinamool Congress, comes a day after state chief ministers from the opposition INDIA bloc, such as Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin, decided to boycott the NITI Aayog meeting.

Story continues below this ad

The objective of their boycott is to protest the central government’s alleged discrimination in terms of funds allocation for opposition-ruled states in this year’s union budget.

Also Read | ‘I won’t go, Abhishek may,’ Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on INDIA bloc’s Wednesday meeting

“The Chief Minister will not be going to New Delhi today. She didn’t disclose any reason for her decision,” said a TMC source. The TMC is also part of the INDIA bloc.

Banerjee on Tuesday said that she would share with NITI Aayog details of money owed by the Centre to her state before she reaches New Delhi.

If she does leave on Friday, this would be Banerjee’s first visit to Delhi after the Lok Sabha polls. The CM is likely to raise the issue of pending central dues for MGNREGA and PMAY schemes with the Union government.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram