Bangalore: Chief Ministers of Southern States began a daylong meeting in Bangalore this morning (Nov 17, 2004) for the mid-term appraisal of the 10th five-year plan.

Chief Ministers Dharam Singh (Karnataka), Y S Rajashekhara Reddy (Andhra Pradesh), Oommen Chandy (Kerala), Vilasrao Deshmukh (Maharashtra) and N Rangaswamy (Pondicherry) are taking part in the regional consultation being held at the Vidhana Soudha amidst tight security.

Tamil Nadu is being represented by its Chief Secretary Lakshmi Pranesh.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia would hold discussions with the Chief Ministers on agriculture and agricultural credit, relieving rural unemployment and food for work programmes, urban and rural infrastructure, social sectors and other issues of concern to State Governments, official sources said.

After the pre-lunch session, Ahluwalia will have one to one meeting with all the Chief Ministers.