Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Ranchi late Wednesday to lead the Eastern Zonal Council meeting on Thursday, drawing nearly 70 representatives from Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal. The high-profile summit, secured with tight security measures, aims to address pressing regional issues under the framework of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, which established five zonal councils to foster cooperative federalism.

The meeting, postponed from May 10 due to India-Pakistan tensions, will see Jharkhand’s Chief Minister Hemant Soren, fresh from Delhi where his father Shibu Soren is under treatment, joined by state officials like Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore and DGP Anurag Gupta. Bihar’s delegation includes ministers Vijay Choudhary and Samrat Choudhary, while Odisha’s Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Deputy CM Parvati Parida are also in attendance. West Bengal’s representative, Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, rounds out the key participants.

Topping Jharkhand’s agenda is the demand for Rs 1.36 lakh crore in pending dues from public sector units like Coal India, a critical issue tied to the state’s mining sector. The council will also tackle national priorities, including expediting sexual offense cases through Fast Track Special Courts, ensuring banking access in rural areas, and strengthening the Emergency Response Support System. Discussions will span regional concerns like nutrition, education, health, electricity, urban planning, and cooperative systems.

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Ranchi’s streets are under strict traffic controls, with auto-rickshaws banned between Birsa Chowk and Sujata Chowk and goods vehicles restricted from 6 am to 10 pm on Thursday. The zonal councils, chaired by the Union Home Minister, serve as advisory platforms but have proven vital in fostering state-Centre dialogue. Over the past 11 years, more than 60 meetings have strengthened inter-state cooperation, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of leveraging cooperative and competitive federalism for national growth.

Each council’s permanent committee, led by chief secretaries, filters issues before they reach the zonal meeting, ensuring focused deliberations. With vibrant states as the backbone of a strong nation, today’s summit could unlock critical solutions for the eastern region’s future.

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