Centre- state unit of MHA might see an overhaul

The BJP- led NDA, that is all set to form the government at the Centre, will focus on improving relations with various states over the next few days, thus triggering speculation that the key Centre- state division in the Union home ministry is headed for a major revamp.

Government sources said that the new PMO under Narendra Modi too will have a new department dealing exclusively with Centre- state relations.

Though it is a known fact that Mr Modi has been a strong advocate of strengthening the federal structure and giving states more autonomy, the move also has a political aspect to it. Even as the NDA has managed a comfortable majority in the Lok Sabha, it does not have the numbers to push through key legislation in the Rajya Sabha.

Thus the BJP would be heavily dependent on regional players for support and is willing to go that extra mile to build bridges with them.

This could mean the states getting a free hand on a host of issues, ranging from law and order to allocation of funds, particularly for police modernisation and security- related expenditure. “A major advantage of Mr Modi becoming the Prime Minister is that having been the chief minister of a state he has experience of working with the Centre. So he knows what kind of problems the state can face and can work towards eliminating them,” a senior gov-

● Another important change in the home ministry’s functioning could be the Centre adopting a more proactive approach on the Naxal issue

ernment official said.

Sources claim that Mr Modi could bring in a senior official to head the Centre- state unit in the PMO which will coordinate closely with the home ministry on matters related to the state governments. “One feels that in the coming days the CS division will not merely be limited to file pushing as it has been doing in the last could of years,” the official remarked.

Another important change in the home ministry’s functioning in the days ahead could be the Centre adopting a more proactive approach on the Naxal issue. Sources said it could be a more result- oriented approach, indicating more armed operations to deal with the Naxal menace. Mr Modi has been critical of the UPA government’s handling of the Naxal problem.

One could witness a greater coordination between the Central and state security in armed operations, particularly on the issue of “hot pursuit”, something that the home ministry had desisted from during the UPA’s tenure.

Chhattisgrah, which already has a BJP government, has over the last few years emerged as the biggest epicentre for Naxal violence.