Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday participated in the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council along with other CMs of the region and made three key requests before Union home minister Amit Shah — one on delimitation, another on NEET and a third on drug control.
Chief Ministers and senior representatives from the southern states and Union Territories participated in the meeting, news agency ANI reported. Earlier reporting noted: Vijay, Shivakumar, Chandrababu Naidu on stage: Amit Shah’s meeting brings Southern CMs together Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday brought key southern leaders together at the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council in Tamil Nadu, with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay , Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu among those attending. Along with Vijay , Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar and Andhra Pradesh’s N Chandrababu Naidu were also in attendance at the meeting at the Taj Fisherman’s Cove hotel in Kovalam, Chengalpet district in Tamil Nadu. The Council was hosted by the TVK -led Tamil Nadu government. The Tamil Nadu chief minister also touched upon interstate river disputes, especially amid the recent rise in tensions with Karnataka over the Cauvery water-sharing row. “Water is fundamental to the lives, agriculture, and livelihoods of millions, and the management of interstate rivers demands both cooperation and unwavering respect for the rule of law. First, the legitimate rights of lower riparian States and the livelihoods that depend on assured river flows must be fully protected.
“As the freeze on the allocation of Lok Sabha seats based on the 1971 Census approaches its end and the Delimitation Bill, 2026, is considered, there is a genuine and shared concern across the Southern States that delimitation based predominantly on populations may diminish our collective voice in Parliament,” the Tamil Nadu CM said. “I therefore urge the Union Government to provide a clear legislative assurance that no State will suffer a reduction in its percentage of representation in Parliament on account of its success in population stabilisation,” Vijay said. “I urge the Union Government to permit Tamil Nadu to fill all seats under the State quota in MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH courses solely based on Class XII marks, in keeping with the State’s proven and equitable admission system,” the Tamil Nadu chief minister said. CM Vijay said that cooperation had to be paired with legal compliance to resolve the issue. Second, the judgments of the Supreme Court, the awards of duly constituted tribunals, and the statutory mechanisms established for river management must be implemented in letter and spirit,” he said.
Earlier reporting noted: The meeting was held at the Taj Fisherman’s Cove hotel in Kovalam, Chengalpet district, and hosted by the Tamil Nadu government. Earlier reporting noted: Amit Shah is the Chairman of the council, while Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is its Vice-Chairman, the report added.
