The 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council was held at Kovalam near Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu on Thursday, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairing the meeting and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph
Vijay serving as Vice-Chairman.
The meeting brought together chief ministers, deputy chief ministers, ministers and senior officials from the southern states and Union Territories to deliberate on inter-state matters, development-related concerns and issues of wider national importance.
The Southern Zonal Council comprises Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, along with the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs release cited by news agency ANI, the Council was established under Sections 15 to 22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
Its meetings provide a platform for discussions between the Centre and states as well as among member states and Union Territories.
DK Shivakumar Seeks Fairer Funds And Political Representation
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar used the meeting to press for greater fiscal and political equity for southern states.
Calling the South the “engine of the Indian economy”, he said the five southern states account for nearly 33 per cent of India’s GDP while representing around 20 per cent of the population.
Shivakumar highlighted Karnataka’s contribution, saying the state accounts for 42 per cent of India’s software exports, has around 1,100 Global Capability Centres and received more than 21 per cent of India’s FDI equity inflows between 2019 and 2025.
He said Karnataka, with around 5.5 per cent of India’s population, contributes about 9 per cent to the country’s GDP.
On fiscal devolution, he said Karnataka’s share in the divisible pool under the 15th Finance Commission fell from 4.7 per cent to 3.6 per cent, which he said resulted in an estimated loss of Rs 65,000 crore over six years.
He also said special and state-specific grants of Rs 5,495 crore and Rs 6,000 crore recommended by the 15th Finance Commission had not been released.
While welcoming Karnataka’s increased 4.131 per cent share under the 16th Finance Commission, Shivakumar said the state’s share should ultimately be restored to 4.7 per cent.
He also sought additional projects, including the Bengaluru-Mumbai high-speed rail project, STRR South, an AIIMS in Raichur and a special package for Kalyana Karnataka.
Delimitation, 543 Lok Sabha Seats And Women’s Reservation
Shivakumar also raised concerns over delimitation and the political representation of southern states.
He argued that states should not lose political influence because of their success in population control.
He called for the 1971 population basis to be honoured and urged that the South’s representation be protected in both absolute numbers and proportion.
He further asked the Southern Zonal Council to pass a resolution seeking to retain the Lok Sabha’s existing strength of 543 seats for the next 25 years and accommodate women’s reservation within those seats.
“Women have waited long enough for their rightful representation,” Shivakumar said, arguing that women’s reservation should not have to wait for a fresh population count.
He urged the other Chief Ministers to support the demand.
Shivakumar Pushes For Water Cooperation
Inter-state water disputes also featured in Shivakumar’s intervention.
He described the Cauvery, Krishna, Tungabhadra, Pennar and Palar rivers as lifelines of the southern peninsula and called for a shift from “water sharing to water cooperation”.
Referring to a June 25 meeting involving Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, he said dialogue could help address inter-state water issues.
At the same time, he stressed that Karnataka’s lawful share under tribunal awards and timely completion of projects benefiting its farmers must be protected.
Shivakumar said he would place Karnataka’s position on the Krishna, Upper Bhadra and river interlinking projects before the Council.
He also raised the Mekedatu project, saying it was important for both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and arguing that the project could benefit farmers in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Other Issues Raised At The Meeting
The Karnataka Chief Minister also flagged healthcare financing, education and nutrition, housing for poorer families, coastal erosion and disaster support, mining rights, land provided by states to Central institutions, justice delivery, digital infrastructure, financial inclusion and support for farmers.
On mining, he urged the Centre to reconsider the Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulation) Bill, 2026, saying it affected the states’ right to tax major minerals.
He also called for stronger laws and enforcement against drug trafficking.
Shivakumar said Karnataka had come to the meeting as a partner and sought “fairness” in resources and representation.
Amit Shah Raises Vande Mataram Issue
During the proceedings, Amit Shah also spoke about the Congress and Vande Mataram.
He alleged that the Congress had split the song in 1937 as part of what he described as “Muslim appeasement” and criticised a Congress decision concerning the singing of Vande Mataram at government functions.
Shah termed the decision “anti-national”, accused the Congress of having a “partition mindset” and said the BJP condemned it.
The Zonal Councils function as advisory bodies and are intended to facilitate dialogue and cooperation on issues involving two or more states, or the Centre and states.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said such meetings have evolved as a platform for resolving disputes and discussing matters of regional and national importance.
Revanth Reddy Did Not Attend
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was listed among the chief ministers associated with the Southern Zonal Council meeting, but he did not attend the deliberations.
Reddy left New Delhi for London early Thursday, beginning a 10-day tour of the UK and US, after being in the national capital for the Congress Working Committee meeting on August 19.
According to the inputs, his overseas itinerary includes visits and interactions at Oxford University, Cambridge, the University of London, London Business School, Harvard University, MIT and Virginia Tech University.
He is also scheduled to attend an Indian Overseas Congress event in New York before returning to Hyderabad on August 30.
