Amit Shah meets Tamil Nadu CM Vijay ahead of crucial southern states' gathering

Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay in Chennai ahead of Thursday's Southern Zonal Council meeting in Kovalam, which will discuss inter-State issues and regional development.

In Short

• Amit Shah to chair south Chief Ministers' gathering in Tamil Nadu today
• He meets Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay ahead of south council
• CMs' meet to address inter-state issues, including water-sharing

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay in Chennai, ahead of a key meeting of Chief Ministers from southern states and representatives of Union Territories on Thursday.

The meeting comes as the Centre and southern states prepare to deliberate on a range of long-pending inter-state issues, including water-sharing disputes and regional development.

Shah shared photographs of the meeting on X and said he met Vijay ahead of the Sourhen Zone Council meeting. The meeting was the first between the two after Vijay assumed office as Chief Minister in May.

The meeting will be chaired by Shah, while Vijay, as the host Chief Minister, will serve as the council's vice-chairman. Chief Ministers of the participating states, along with Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of the Union Territories, are expected to attend.

The council comprises Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, along with the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. The council provides a forum for the Centre and states to resolve inter-State issues and strengthen regional cooperation.

Several contentious issues are expected to come up for discussion, including river water-sharing disputes involving Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

According to the Centre, the meeting will also discuss the functioning of Fast Track Special Courts for the speedy investigation and disposal of cases involving crimes against women and children, including rape, as well as issues related to education.

Other matters of common regional interest likely to figure in the deliberations include issues arising from the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, water-sharing arrangements, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin and civil aviation.

The Centre has said the Zonal Councils have emerged as an important platform for fostering mutual understanding and cooperation among states, besides providing a mechanism for resolving issues through dialogue.

The 31st meeting is being organised by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs, with the Tamil Nadu government hosting the event. Besides Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors and Administrators, Chief Secretaries, advisers and other senior officials are expected to participate in the deliberations.

- Ends