First-Ever Full House Attendance At Niti Aayog Meet As CMs Put Politics Aside

Last Updated:June 12, 2026, 07:19 IST

In 2024, 10 chief ministers skipped the gathering, while nine had stayed away in 2023.

Chief ministers from all 28 states took part in Thursday’s Niti Aayog Governing Council meeting, making it the first time that every state was represented at the deliberations. The gathering unfolded without any political friction, a marked contrast to the previous 10 meetings that had witnessed boycotts and several absences.

According to officials present, the discussions remained cordial throughout and no political issues were raised. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also remarked on the positive atmosphere during the meeting.

The meeting saw participation from chief ministers across party lines, including those from Congress-ruled Kerala, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana, as well as AAP-governed Punjab. The NDA also registered its strongest-ever presence at the forum. Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s attendance represented a notable change in the state’s stance, bringing to an end the boycott observed by the previous Congress government.

Earlier, political differences between the Centre and states such as West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka had spilt over into Niti Aayog meetings. In 2024, 10 chief ministers skipped the gathering, while nine had stayed away in 2023.

Officials from Niti Aayog said that 20 states have already prepared their Viksit State roadmap, while another 10 are expected to complete the exercise over the coming months. “The big takeaway was reaffirmation by all states to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat," another official added.

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