Tamil Nadu CM Stalin constitutes high-level committee to review Centre-state relations

Chennai: Upping his ante on the DMK’s pet topic of federalism, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday constituted a high-level committee under former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph to review Centre-State relations and recommend measures to achieve “maximum State autonomy” in administration, and legislature, “without harming national unity.”

Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly exactly 51 years after his father and then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi moved a resolution seeking State Autonomy, Stalin said no meaningful changes have occurred in relationship between the Centre and states despite recommendations of Sarkaria and the Punchhi Committees in 1983 and 2004 respectively.

Stalin accused the BJP government of taking away the rights of states one by one, making them fight for the basic rights of the people and alleged that the Centre was moving forward with the task of transferring medicine, law and finance subjects to the Concurrent List.

“The committee will be headed by Justice Kurian Joseph. Former Tamil Nadu-cadre IAS officer K Ashok Vardhan Shetty and Prof M Naganathan will be the members. The committee will submit an interim report in January 2026 while the final report is expected in two years’ time,” Stalin said.

Shetty worked closely with Stalin for five years in the 2006-2011 DMK government, Naganathan, who was also former deputy chairman of State Planning Commission, was associated with Karunanidhi for over three decades and his son Ezhilan is a DMK MLA representing Thousand Lights constituency.

Timing of the announcement

The announcement comes at a time of heightened tensions between the BJP and DMK governments, with just a year until Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin faces the critical 2026 assembly elections. Although the plan had been in development for some time, Stalin strategically chose Tuesday to make the announcement, aiming to challenge the AIADMK and BJP, who formed an alliance for the 2026 polls the previous week.

As expected, the AIADMK walked out even before Stalin’s speech while BJP state chief Nainar Nagendran participated in the discussion and opposed the announcement. He later told reporters outside the Assembly that the DMK was propagating separatist tendencies among people.

Stalin didn’t miss the chance to take a dig at the AIADMK saying he doesn’t know what to comment on the walkout by the principal opposition party. “They say ideology and alliance are two different things. I want to ask, "Is this (opposing a measure intended to reclaim state’s rights) your ideology?” he said, referring to Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami, who wasn’t present in the House.

What will the committee examine?

The committee, will examine and re-evaluate all provisions of the Constitution and existing laws, orders, policies and arrangements that may have an impact on the relationship between the Union and the States, and

recommend ways to restore subjects moved from the State List to the Concurrent List.

It will also address challenges to good governance, and suggest measures for greater autonomy in administration, legislatures, and judiciary, without “compromising the unity and integrity of the country.”

The committee will also consider the 1971 recommendations of the K Rajamannar Committee appointed by Karunanidhi in 1969 and subsequent developments, Stalin said.

Tearing into the BJP, which has been heading the Union Government since 2014, for “snatching powers” vested with the states, Stalin accused the saffron party of introducing NEET, imposing Hindi on Tamil Nadu through the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and trying to punish Southern states for effectively controlling population through Delimitation.

He also said Tamil Nadu gets back a mere 29 paise for the every Re 1 of tax it contributes to the Union Government and recalled the state’s strident opposition to Goods and Services Tax (GST) at the introduction stage to drive home his point that almost all powers are being centralised in Delhi leaving states with less powers even on subjects like education and health.

‘Only a mother knows what her child needs’

Contending that Tamil Nadu was the pioneer in securing state’s rights and had never hesitated to go to any length to ensure the rule of the law is established, Stalin spoke about the DMK dispensation’s recent legal victory against Governor R N Ravi that upheld “federalism and state rights” across India.

“Only a mother knows what her child needs. If someone in Delhi dictates a child’s food, education, or path, won’t the compassionate mother rise in protest?” Stalin asked and demanded that Education be brought back to the State list in the Constitution, amid thumping of desks by his colleagues.

“A strong Union is not built by weakening States. It is built by empowering them. And once again, Tamil Nadu rises to lead this call,” Stalin added.

The Chief Minister said Tamil Nadu was not only arguing for the devolution of power and resources to the states only in its interest, but also in the interest of all the states in the vast Indian subcontinent, from Gujarat to the North-Eastern states, from Kashmir to Kerala.

“In the debates on state autonomy, the first voice will always be heard from Tamil Nadu… Tamil Nadu, which guides the nation whenever the need arises, is coming forward to fulfil its historical duty this time too.” Stalin said.

‘Nothing wrong in TN government’s move’

P D T Achary, former Lok Sabha Secretary-General, told DH that there was nothing “unconstitutional” about the Tamil Nadu government constituting a committee, which is well under its authority.

“A government can appoint a commission or a committee to examine a matter that they are constitutionally concerned about. The government equipped with the report will impress upon the Central Government about their case based on the recommendations of the committee that they appointed. There is nothing wrong with this,” he said.

Stalin, in his speech, accused the Union Government of withholding Rs 2,500 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, depriving Tamil Nadu’s students.

“Everyone will realize that our strong advocacy of the need for the remotest villages of Tamil Nadu to realize their needs and implement the welfare programs that are appropriate for them, as well as the appropriate financial resources, is also applicable to states like Kerala, Telangana, and Karnataka in India,” he added.