New Delhi: Concerned over the deteriorating fiscal situation of Centre and states, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on October 18 appealed to Chief Ministers to evolve a political consensus on critical developmental and governance reforms for better fiscal discipline.

"Unless we broaden the area of political consensus, and consensus between the Centre and states, on critical development and governance reforms, the problems that we currently face would get compounded," Vajpayee said in his opening remarks at the Chief Ministers' conference on fiscal issues.

"I appeal to you (Chief Ministers) to help make today's conference a major milestone in our ongoing efforts at achieving better fiscal discipline and thereby attaining higher growth rates," he said.

PTI