Second round of Finance Ministers' conclave in Vijayawada

Andhra Pradesh government will be hosting the second round of Finance Ministers' conclave on May 7 in Vijayawada. The meeting is aimed at discussing the adverse terms of reference in the 15th Finance Commission.

Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac had met AP Finance Minister Y Ramakrishnudu and discussed the modalities of the second round of the meeting in Amaravati on Monday.

“The loss due to 15th Finance Commission to southern states itself will be up to the tune of Rs 80,000 crore. States such as Odisha and West Bengal will also stand to lose as year 2011 will be taken as base year for population,” he said.

Calling for a nation-wide debate on this issue, the Kerala minister told reporters that efforts will be made to organise meetings all over the country after the Vijayawada conclave.

Yanamala said that the state government is inviting Finance Ministers of all the 29 states for the meeting. “This meeting won’t be restricted to southern states only,” he clarified.

“Demonetisation and the implementation of GST have put tremendous financial pressure on states. The Centre has been taking away majority of the powers from the states. The terms of reference indicate that the 15th Finance Commission is going to be another jolt to the states," Ramakrishnudu said.

Recently on April 10, Kerala played host to the first southern Finance Ministers’ conclave in Thiruvananthapuram. While Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Puducherry took part in the meeting Tamil Nadu and Telangana opted out.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the first round, Yanamala lashed out accusing the Centre of not consulting the states while forming ToRs. “This is against the Constitution. I don't know why they have stipulated the ToRs without taking the opinion of all states,” he said.