Chennai, August 20: Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Chennai on Wednesday night. He is set to chair the 31st meeting of the Southern Regional Council, which will take place in Kovalam on Thursday. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will serve as the vice-chairman during this meeting.
Amit Shah landed at Chennai Airport around 9 PM, where he was welcomed by Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran, senior party leaders Pon Radhakrishnan, and Vanathi Srinivasan, among others.
Former ministers from AIADMK, including Agri S.S. Krishnamurthy, O.S. Manian, and N. Thalavai Sundaram, were also present. Additionally, Tamil Nadu’s School Education Minister Raj Mohan welcomed him on behalf of the state government.
Following this, the Union Home Minister proceeded to a five-star hotel near Mamallapuram, where he was greeted by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. This marks their first meeting since Vijay took office as Chief Minister.
The meeting, organized by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs, will commence at 10 AM on Thursday and is expected to last approximately four hours. The Tamil Nadu government is hosting this conference.
Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries from Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana are expected to attend. Representatives from Puducherry, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep will also participate. Additionally, the Lieutenant Governors, Administrators, and two ministers from each member state and Union Territory will be present.
Established under the State Reorganization Act of 1956, this council is a statutory body. The meeting is anticipated to address shared issues among southern states, inter-state coordination, development, and security. The recommendations made by the council are advisory in nature.
From Tamil Nadu, Energy Resources and Law Minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar and School Education Minister Raj Mohan will be council members. Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar and Additional Chief Secretary for Home, Prohibition, and Excise, K. Manivasan, will participate as advisors.
Former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan welcomed Amit Shah, expressing confidence that the discussions would strengthen cooperative federalism and contribute to the development of southern states.
According to officials, the meeting will focus on resolving various pending regional issues and emphasize enhancing cooperation between states. Amit Shah is scheduled to depart Chennai on Thursday evening after the meeting.
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