Return of regional parties may smoothen Centre-State relations
NEW DELHI : Centre-state relations may be about to get a makeover. The resurgence of regional parties in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as also in the Congress-led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), which rules several states, might lead to significant shifts in the dynamics between the Centre and states, experts said.
While some experts said this might cause greater friction between the Centre and states, others saw it as a positive development, and more in line with inclusive development of the country. Prime minister Narendra Modi had started off on a cordial note in 2015, calling for the states and the central government to work as “Team India".
One of the objectives of setting up NITI Aayog was to promote competitive and cooperative federalism among states and Union territories. Despite these initial efforts, friction has periodically been seen between the Modi-led central government and several states, especially those ruled by opposition parties, largely in terms of financial or fiscal relations.
States like West Bengal and Karnataka have time and again blamed the Centre for allegedly withholding funds. This February, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee led a protest against the Centre over its delay in releasing financial wages under the flagship Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) and the Centre's housing schemes.
The southern states of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, where the state governments are led by the Indian National Congress (INC), Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), respectively, also protested at Jantar Mantar this February against the Centre's alleged fiscal biases. However, the stance of the central
. Read more on livemint.com
