TN Chief Minister Meets Amit Shah Ahead of Southern CMs’ Key Issues Meet
Southern states set to deliberate on water-sharing disputes, education, policing and other issues requiring Centre-state coordination.
Chennai, Aug 20: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday ahead of the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council in Kovalam, where chief ministers and senior officials from southern states are discussing key inter state and national matters.
The meeting between Vijay and Shah was described by officials as a courtesy call and marked their first meeting since Vijay assumed office as Tamil Nadu chief minister. Shah, who chairs the Southern Zonal Council, shared a photograph of the meeting.
The council’s 31st session is being chaired by Shah at Kovalam near Mahabalipuram. Vijay is serving as the council’s vice chairman, a position held by chief ministers of member states on a rotational basis.
The Southern Zonal Council comprises Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, along with the Union Territories of Puducherry, Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Among the key matters expected to come up are inter-state river disputes, including the Cauvery issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, disagreements involving Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and water related concerns between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Other subjects include education, drug control and the functioning of fast-track special courts dealing with crimes against women and children.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Kerala opposition leader V D Satheesan and Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka are among the southern leaders associated with the deliberations. Telangana is represented by Vikramarka in the absence of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.
The meeting is organised by the Inter State Council Secretariat under the Union Home Ministry, with the Tamil Nadu government hosting the event. Chief ministers, lieutenant governors and administrators of the participating states and Union Territories, along with senior ministers and officials, are taking part.
The Zonal Councils were established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, to provide a structured platform for cooperation between states and between states and the Centre. The Southern Zonal Council is intended to facilitate dialogue and help resolve disputes involving its member states and Union Territories.
Following the meeting, Shah is scheduled to visit the historic shore temple complex at Mamallapuram, an important heritage site on Tamil Nadu’s coast.
