Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a high-level virtual interaction with Chief Ministers on Friday to review India’s preparedness amid the escalating conflict in West Asia. However, in a significant development, the Chief Ministers of five states, including West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee, will not be attending this crucial meeting. This exclusion comes at a time when global tensions are causing concerns over fuel shortages and supply chain disruptions.

The primary reason behind this decision is the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) currently in place in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Puducherry due to the upcoming 2026 Assembly Elections. Sources within the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that inviting Chief Ministers of poll-bound states to a policy-heavy meeting could violate electoral norms. Instead, the Cabinet Secretariat will hold a separate session with the Chief Secretaries of these five states to ensure administrative continuity.

The meeting will focus on the “Team India” approach to mitigate the economic fallout of the Iran-Israel conflict. Key agendas include stabilizing energy security, ensuring the steady supply of fertilizers for farmers, and checking inflation. While PM Modi aims to build a consensus on national resilience, the absence of five major states highlights the intersection of global crises and domestic electoral politics. The government has already set up empowered groups to monitor essential commodities, and this meeting is expected to streamline coordination with the rest of the states to prevent any panic-like situation across the country.