The Centre has decided to set up a committee that will have chief ministers of five states to suggest measures to push for a cashless economy, and ease the situation caused by demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday, asking him to head the five-member panel. Jaitley also spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has supported the ban on old notes, and requested him to join the panel.
Other members may include Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. All these chief ministers have backed demonetisation.
Meanwhile, Modi hailed the BJP’s victory in the elections to local bodies in Maharashtra.
The prime minister described it as a “win for pro-poor and development politics”, and thanked the people of the state for placing their faith in the party.