Most CMs Favour Alternative To Planning Commission, Says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

By siliconindia | Monday, 08 December 2014, 02:58 Hrs

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that most chief ministers have favoured replacing the Planning Commission with an alternative structure which has representation from the central government and the states and expert participation also.

Briefing reporters after the meeting of chief ministers called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss reshaping of the Planning Commission, Jaitley said that most chief ministers were also of the view that the new institution should not be a "merely central government structure".

"Most favoured an alternative structure where the Centre, states and experts participate... A very large majority was in favour of changed structure," he said.

Without naming the Congress or its chief ministers, Jaitley said some chief ministers wanted that revamp should be carried out within the existing body.

"A few, while agreeing with the general principles of change, felt if the present Planning Commission could evolve into that structure," he said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not attend the meeting and the state was represented by its finance minister.

Jaitley said the meeting was followed by a retreat where the prime minister and chief ministers had "an informal meeting" with no bureaucrats present.

He said there was no specific agenda for the retreat and any issue could be discussed.

Answering a query about the final decision of the government on reshaping the planning panel, Jaitley said it will "take a considered view after consultations are over". He did not specify a time frame.

Source: IANS