If the sources in the ruling Telugu Desam Party are to be believed, party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu will shake hands with latest bitter rival Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on June 16.
The occasion will be the fourth meeting of the Niti Aayog's Governing Council, which will deliberate on the development agenda for New India 2022.
The Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, includes all chief ministers and also the members of the government think tank.
The meeting will discuss the 75 years of Independent India. The draft development agenda will be circulated among all the chief ministers who attend the meeting for their approval and it will be followed by discussion on aspirational states.
While some chief minsters like Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal have decided to skip the Niti Aayog meeting as they do not gel with Modi, sources said Naidu has decided to attend the meeting and face Modi.
“He is expected to present a comprehensive document with all facts and figures to pull up the Centre’s deliberate neglect of Andhra Pradesh and its failure in fulfilling the promises made to the state,” sources said.
The chief minister is likely to question Modi for adopting new guidelines in releasing funds under 15th Finance Commission in the meeting.
Though Naidu also initially wanted to avoid going to Delhi to attend the meeting in protest against denial of special category status to AP and also because he would have to exchange pleasantries with Modi, he later changed his mind.
He asked the opinions of his party leaders who suggested that it would be better he attended the meeting and expose Modi in presence of all the other non-BJP chief ministers.
“This will not only be an embarrassment to Modi, but also bring national media attention to Naidu,” an analyst said.
