Oppn CMs may turn NDC meet stormy

The National Development Council (NDC) meeting on Saturday may turn out to be a stormy affair, with chief ministers of opposition-ruled states led by NDA planning to protest against the UPA government for trying to disturb the country's federal polity. Shishir Gupta reports.

The National Development Council (NDC) meeting on Saturday may turn out to be a stormy affair, with chief ministers of opposition-ruled states led by NDA planning to protest against the UPA government for trying to disturb the country's federal polity.

The official agenda is to discuss the approach paper for the 12th Five Year Plan, which calls for "faster, sustainable and more inclusive growth."

Sources said while the chief ministers of BJP-ruled states will decide on their political strategy for the NDC at a dinner-cum-meeting hosted by party president Nitin Gadkari on Friday evening, NDA chief ministers like Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal would be sounded out before the Saturday conclave.

It is understood that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi will pay a flying visit to Delhi only on the day of the meeting, as he is apparently in the midst of his 'sadhbhavana yatra' in the state. The NDA chief ministers may not be able to discuss the strategy jointly with BJP CMs as LK Advani, working chairman of the alliance, is out on a rath yatra.

At the NDC meeting, which will be addressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the CMs of opposition-ruled states are expected to protest against undue political interference by their respective governors.

It is learnt that even Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik and Nitish Kumar may join hands with the BJP on "undue interference by governors" and the Communal Violence Bill, which gives overriding powers to the Centre.

Except for Punjab CM Prakash Badal, all other CMs have some grouse or the other with the governors of their states.