New Delhi, May 21
Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi is believed to have invited all Chief Ministers, irrespective of their party affiliations, to his swearing-in ceremony on Monday. The move is aimed at ensuring better synergy between the Centre and states.

Invitations have been dispatched to the state heads by “the government”, a party source said. “Modi is keen that all CMs be part of the ceremony on the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourts on May 26” and has, therefore, invited not just the “non-Congress CMs” such as J Jayalalithaa (Tamil Nadu), Naveen Patnaik (Odisha) and Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal) but also those belonging to the grand old party, a source said.

“His point of view is that all CMs are equal,” said a senior leader. The move marks the beginning of Modi’s initiative to build a “Team India”, with CMs and other functionaries as equal partners, he added. “Involving states in the promotion of foreign trade and commerce and helping them mobilise resources through investments in industry, agriculture and infrastructure was also outlined by the BJP manifesto. The aim is to ensure fiscal autonomy of states while urging financial discipline,” a senior leader said.

While other confirmations are awaited, it is almost certain that Jayalalithaa will be in attendance on Monday. In fact, Modi had attended her swearing-in ceremony when she took over as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister in May 2011. She reciprocated by attending his oath-taking ceremony as Gujarat Chief Minister for the third consecutive term in December 2012.

Sceptics may dismiss it as otherwise, but BJP leaders insist Modi will treat all CMs as equals, irrespective of their party affiliations.

“A good state-Centre relationship is part of his larger plan to build one cohesive India. He does not want to project the Centre as a big brother. This is what he has indicated in his speeches that his vision of the Centre is an enabler and facilitator in the rapid progress of states,” a party leader said.

“The BJP’s manifesto is clear on Modi’s vision for ‘Team India’. It will be a model of national development, which will be driven by states. ‘Team India’, it says, will not be limited to the Prime Minister-led team sitting in Delhi, but will include CMs and other functionaries as equal partners,” the leader said.

The manifesto promised to “create a ‘Regional Councils of States’, with common problems and concerns, to seek solutions that are applicable across a group of states. “We will encourage cooperation among states on security-related issues, inter-state disputes etc,” the manifesto said.

• BJP sources insist Narendra Modi will treat all CMs as equals, irrespective of their party affiliations
• He wants to get CMs of all states on board in his vision for ‘Team India’ — a model of national development driven by states
• ‘Team India’ will not be limited to the PM-led team in Delhi, but will include CMs and other functionaries as ‘equal partners’