Three CMs to skip Plan panel’s five-state meet

The CMs of Chhattisgarh,Orissa,Jharkhand and West Bengal — apart from that of the host state — were supposed to attend the meeting,which is held every five years.

Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh has already made it clear that he would not attend any meet of a panel that has social activist Binayak Sen — facing sedition charges in the state — as a member. Sen was recently appointed member of Planning Commission’s steering committee on health.

Jharkhand CM Arjun Munda will not attend the meeting as he is leaving for the US on May 28 for the treatment of his two sons.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee will not attend because of her pre-occupation with her new job. Sources said Planning and Development Minister Manish Gupta will represent Bengal.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had tried hard to get “friend” Mamata to attend. He refrained from commenting on the Chhattisgarh CM’s stand.

Bihar Planning and Development Principal Secretary Vijay Prakash said: “We have so far got confirmation only from the Orissa CM. We have no details on CMs or other ministers or government officials representing Chhattisgarh,Jharkhand and West Bengal.”

Asked if Binayak Sen would be part of the plan panel team attending the Patna meet,Prakash said: “No. It is a general meeting of the plan panel where five states will discuss their priorities and press for demands.”

Munda’s personal secretary Sanjay Basu said: “The CM will leave Ranchi on May 28 and return on June 10. He is accompanying his sons,suffering from sickle cell anemia,a genetic disorder.”

(With ENS inputs from Kolkata and Ranchi)