On May 24, 2025, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee chose to skip the crucial NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting held in New Delhi. This meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was a significant event where chief ministers and union territory leaders discussed India's development roadmap, economic challenges, and policies aimed at transforming India into a "Viksit Bharat" by 2047.

The absence of Mamata Banerjee attracted immediate attention and criticism, especially from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition leaders. While no official confirmation was given about who would represent West Bengal in her absence, reports indicated that Chief Secretary Manoj Pant was likely to attend the meeting.

The BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya described Mamata’s decision as "unfortunate" for West Bengal's people, stating that skipping the meeting deprived the state of an opportunity to highlight critical issues. Bhattacharya emphasised that the state government missed a chance to raise important matters like infrastructure development and central fund allocations, which are vital for Bengal’s growth.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury echoed these concerns, saying Mamata could have used the platform to address the “non-disbursement of central funds” affecting West Bengal’s development projects. Both parties criticised the move as politically motivated and warned that such actions would not serve Bengal's interests.

This NITI Aayog meeting was particularly important as it came shortly after Operation Sindoor, India’s precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and amid rising tensions in the region. The council focused on reviewing initiatives announced in the 2025-26 Budget, the challenges confronting the Indian economy due to international developments, and strategies to accelerate economic growth.

The attendance of other key leaders underscored the meeting's importance. Chief Ministers like Karnataka's Siddaramaiah (Congress) sent a speech due to prior commitments, while Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan deputed a cabinet colleague. Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy also skipped the meet, continuing his Union Territory’s political stance.

Mamata Banerjee’s move sparked debates, recalling the 2024 NITI Aayog meeting, where most opposition leaders boycotted the session, but Mamata had attended initially, only to leave midway citing technical disruptions preventing her speech.

India’s economy, facing global headwinds such as potential US recession risks and slowing Chinese growth, is projected to grow between 6.2-6.7% in the current fiscal. The NITI Aayog meeting aimed to foster cooperative federalism, discuss the Union Budget impact, and align states on development priorities.

By not attending, Mamata Banerjee chose a path seen by some as political dissent but by critics as a missed chance for West Bengal to engage at the national level on crucial development and economic issues.

In conclusion, Mamata Banerjee’s absence from the NITI Aayog meeting has stirred political debate, with the BJP and Congress urging the West Bengal government to prioritise state development over political statements. The incident highlights the complex interplay between state and central governments in India's federal structure amid ongoing economic and security challenges.

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