Mamallapuram to Host 31st Southern Zonal Council as Inter-State Coordination Resumes

Regional Cooperation Framework Returns to Tamil Nadu

Preparation is underway for the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting, scheduled to take place in the coastal town of Mamallapuram during the latter half of August. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will preside over the assembly, which brings together representatives from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. While the summit was initially slated for January 2025, officials have confirmed the expedited timeline following multiple coordination sessions.

Statutory Foundations and Membership Updates

Established under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, these statutory bodies serve as formal platforms for resolving inter-state grievances and harmonizing regional policy. This upcoming session marks the first such gathering since September 2022, when Kerala hosted the council in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Tamil Nadu government has overhauled its representation for the council, nominating a new slate of attendees to serve alongside Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay:

• Minister R. Nirmalkumar: Overseeing Energy Resources and Law.
• Minister Rajmohan: Managing School Education, Tamil Development, Information, and Publicity.
• K. Manivasan: Additional Chief Secretary (Home, Prohibition and Excise) serving as the second adviser.
• M. Saikumar: Chief Secretary and primary adviser to the council.

This new delegation replaces the previous team consisting of former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and ministers T.R.B. Rajaa and P.K. Sekarbabu. The shift reflects administrative adjustments as the state prepares to address regional logistics, security, and legislative coordination about 60 kilometers south of Chennai.

Source: The Hindu — Home