Prime Minister Modi Meets Opposition Chief Ministers at 10th NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting

New Delhi, Saturday — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a rare and noteworthy engagement with several chief ministers from opposition-ruled states during the 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, convened in the national capital.

The meeting, held under the theme “Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat @2047,” aimed to foster a shared vision for national development through stronger Centre-State collaboration. The event was marked by the presence of key opposition leaders, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, and Telangana CM Revanth Reddy — signalling a significant moment of public interaction between the Prime Minister and opposition figures.

Photographs and videos from the meeting circulated widely across social media platforms, highlighting moments of cordial engagement. One image in particular showed Prime Minister Modi shaking hands with Telangana’s Revanth Reddy, with Hemant Soren and Bhagwant Mann also seen in the frame. Another widely shared photo captured the Prime Minister conversing over tea with M.K. Stalin and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

However, the absence of two prominent southern leaders — Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan — was notable, drawing speculation about ongoing political dynamics in the region.

Addressing the Council, Prime Minister Modi underscored the critical importance of cooperative federalism, calling on states and the central government to function as a unified team. “We must accelerate the pace of development. When the Centre and the States work together as Team India, no goal is beyond reach,” he was quoted as saying via NITI Aayog’s official post on X (formerly Twitter).

The Governing Council of NITI Aayog, chaired by the Prime Minister, is the apex body for policy dialogue between the Centre and the States. It comprises all chief ministers, lieutenant governors of Union Territories, and senior Union ministers. This year’s gathering was the first major platform bringing together national and state leaders following the recent Operation Sindoor, adding to the significance of the occasion.

The deliberations at the meeting are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping India’s long-term growth trajectory as the nation aspires to become a developed economy by its centenary of independence in 2047.