Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to preside over the 26th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council (EZC) in Patna on Sunday. The EZC encompasses the states of Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, and Jharkhand.
“The EZC will be attended by the chief ministers of the member states, along with two senior ministers from each state. The chief secretaries and other senior officers of the state governments and the Central government will also participate in the meeting,” stated the Ministry of Home Affairs.
This meeting holds significance as it marks the first face-to-face interaction between Shah and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar since Kumar’s exit from the NDA to form a new government with Lalu Prasad’s RJD and Congress.
Kumar had missed the last EZC meeting in Kolkata on December 17, 2022, citing health reasons, and had delegated representation to Deputy CM Tejashvi Prasad Yadav.
While Nitish Kumar has confirmed attendance this time, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is likely to skip the meeting, with Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharjee representing the state.
The Bihar government is expected to raise the issue of special status for the state, along with other concerns. Water resource minister Sanjay Kumar Jha stated that demands for Bihar’s special status and the Kosi high dam to prevent flooding will be presented.
The meeting’s agenda includes discussions on issues like the minimum price for minor millets, infrastructure development, water sharing, and the demand for a caste-based census in the country.
Zonal council meetings serve as platforms for discussions on various issues concerning member states, playing an advisory role and fostering mutual understanding and cooperation in different fields.
