Terms of reference row: Finance panel unleashes states' ire before award

There will always be some states disgruntled over the devolution formulae of finance commissions (FCs).

However, probably for the first time, the terms of reference (ToRs) of an FC have stirred a controversy. To the extent that finance ministers of most southern states came together to register a protest. And, plan to broaden their group by including other states, including Punjab and West Bengal. 

The positive side of such a development is that the protest will not remain only a divide between  northern and southern states. However, it is taking a political shape, of a battle between the Bharatiya Janata