Oppn-ruled states to build pressure for fair share in 16 Finance Commission

The issue of significant cuts in the Central financial allocations to some states due to their progress in certain areas will be a major highlight when Finance Ministers from four South Indian states and Punjab meet on September 12, sources said on Monday.

Five opposition-ruled states -- Kerala (Left), Karnataka and Telangana (Congress), Tamil Nadu (DMK), and Punjab (AAP) -- are holding a conclave to seek a fair deal for their fiscal needs in the upcoming 16th Finance Commission.

The Finance Ministers' conclave is also seen as a bid to build pressure on the BJP-ruled Centre to address their grievances regarding resource allocations, given the commencement of the 16th Finance Commission's operations, chaired by Dr A Arvind Panagariya.

A government source said Kerala and some other states have faced significant cuts in Central financial allocations, as recommended by previous Finance Commissions.

"The 10th Finance Commission recommended a 3.875 per cent allocation for Kerala, whereas