Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin Sets Up Committee to Push State Autonomy Agenda
MK Stalin Announces Panel for Tamil Nadu’s Autonomy, Aims to Reclaim State Powers and Strengthen Federalism
In a bold move to assert Tamil Nadu’s rights and push for greater state autonomy, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday announced the formation of a high-level committee tasked with recommending measures to enhance the state’s self-governance. The announcement was made during a session of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, amid ongoing tensions between the state government and the Governor, and persistent friction with the Centre over issues such as education, language policy, and federal financial support.
According to news agency ANI, Stalin said the proposed panel would study various aspects related to state autonomy and submit detailed recommendations. The committee will be chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph and include two retired IAS officers—Ashok Vardhan Shetty and M.U. Nagarajan—as its core members. The formation of the panel is seen as a significant political and administrative step in Tamil Nadu’s long-standing call for a more equitable distribution of powers between the Union and the states.
Objectives and Timeline of the Committee
As outlined by Stalin in the Assembly, the committee will focus on conducting in-depth research to formulate recommendations that could strengthen the relationship between the state and the central government, while also empowering Tamil Nadu with greater legislative and administrative independence.
“To strengthen the relationship between state and union government, this committee will do research and give recommendations,” Stalin said during his address.
The committee has been assigned an ambitious but phased timeline. An interim report is expected to be submitted by January 2026, while the final comprehensive report is due by 2028. This extended deadline reflects the depth and complexity of the issues the panel is expected to examine, especially those concerning constitutional authority, the federal structure, and evolving Centre-state dynamics in India.
Reclaiming Subjects from the Concurrent List
One of the primary tasks assigned to the committee is to examine legal pathways for restoring subjects that originally belonged to the State List but were transferred to the Concurrent List over the years. This move, Stalin emphasized, is crucial in restoring the true spirit of the federal structure enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
Under the Constitution of India, the State List contains subjects on which only states can legislate, but over the decades, several of these have been gradually absorbed into the Concurrent List, which allows both the Centre and states to make laws—though Central laws prevail in case of conflict. Tamil Nadu has long opposed this trend, viewing it as a central encroachment on state powers.
Criticism of NEET and the National Education Policy
In his address, Stalin did not miss the opportunity to reiterate his government’s strong opposition to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the National Education Policy (NEP), which he claims are being used as tools for central overreach and cultural imposition.
“We have lost many students due to the NEET exam. We have continuously opposed it. In the name of the three-language policy, the Union Government is trying to impose Hindi in Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Tamil Nadu has been at the forefront of the anti-NEET movement, with numerous incidents of student suicides over exam pressure sparking outrage and political backlash in the state. Stalin argued that a one-size-fits-all approach like NEET undermines the state’s own education systems and disproportionately affects students from rural and underprivileged backgrounds.
Similarly, he criticized the NEP as a vehicle for centralization and cultural homogenization, particularly for its alleged push to promote Hindi across non-Hindi-speaking states. According to Stalin, the state’s rejection of NEP has had financial consequences, with the Union Government withholding ₹2,500 crore in funds earmarked for education and development programs in Tamil Nadu.
“Since we have denied NEP, ₹2,500 crore meant for the state has not been released by the Union Government,” Stalin told the Assembly, highlighting the fiscal implications of political dissent under the current federal structure.
Backdrop: MK Stalin vs Governor RN Ravi
Stalin’s announcement also comes on the heels of a significant Supreme Court verdict that marked a legal victory for the Tamil Nadu government in its ongoing power struggle with Governor RN Ravi. The two have frequently clashed over matters ranging from the appointment of vice-chancellors in state universities to the delay in approving bills passed by the Assembly.
Stalin’s insistence on forming a panel to enhance Tamil Nadu’s autonomy appears to be a direct response to these repeated instances of what the state government views as gubernatorial overreach. The relationship between the Governor and the state has become emblematic of a deeper issue—whether appointed governors should have the power to delay or block decisions made by democratically elected state governments.
This broader context adds weight to the formation of the autonomy panel, positioning it not just as a policy initiative, but as part of a larger political statement against the perceived centralization of power under the current Union Government.
Analysts believe the committee’s recommendations could spark wider debate across India, especially in other states where demands for greater decentralization are gaining momentum. Stalin’s actions might inspire similar initiatives in states like Kerala, West Bengal, and Telangana, which have also voiced concerns over increasing central dominance.
As India prepares for the 2026 general elections and continues navigating complex Centre-state relationships, the panel’s findings and recommendations—once released—could shape national conversations around federalism, constitutional reform, and cooperative governance.
