Non-BJP ruled states to seek from Prez amendements in ToR of 15th Finance Commission

The governments of non-BJP ruled states would appeal to President Ram Nath Kovind to change the terms of reference of the 15th Finance Commission so that the census year for calculating revenue distribution is changed to 1971.

According to opposition sources, a memorandum, which has been drafted by the non-BJP state governments, would be presented to the President, seeking his intervention in the matter.

"We would submit our memorandum to the President urging him to intervene in the matter. Only the President can change the terms of reference in the Finance Commission according to the Article 280 (4) in the Constitution," said the opposition source.

Championing the cause of non-BJP state governments, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had, last month, written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the Centre to modify the terms of reference.

Banerjee had said the Centre's decision would "disincentivise the good governance of states such as West Bengal", and had sought "justice" from the prime minister.

"The overall approach to use the 1971 population census of all the earlier Finance Commissions was based on a very sound and rational footing. It incentivised those states which have effectively implemented socio-economic programmes and family welfare programmes in their states," Banerjee had written.

"The use of 2011 population would severely disincentivise the good governance of states like West Bengal. It would result in a very significant loss in devolution to many states," she had written.

Banerjee had also said that depending upon the criteria used by the commission, West Bengal would loose between Rs 22,000 crore to Rs 35,000 crore from 2020 to 2025.