Stalin calls for Constitution change: 'India's federalism needs structural reset'

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin

• MK Stalin calls for constitutional amendment to boost federalism
• DMK seeks more state autonomy and end to governor's address
• Stalin criticizes TN Governor for political remarks in Assembly

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Ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly election, Chief Minister MK Stalin on proposed amendment to the Constitution to strengthen federalism at the Centre and state autonomy, calling for a "structural reset" of the country's federalism.

Tabling the first part of Justice Kurian Joseph committee report on centre-state relations in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, he said federalism was about trust and autonomy.

"India's federalism needs a structural reset. If we wish, we can again amend the Constitution. Meaningful federalism is not about control, but about trust, autonomy, and governance that responds to people's realities," Stalin, the ruling DMK president, said.

In 1967, DMK founder and late CM C N Annadurai observed that the Union must indeed be strong enough to maintain the sovereignty and integrity of India.

His successor, the late M Karunanidhi, advanced this philosophy through the maxim, "Autonomy for States, and Federalism at the Centre" and in 1969 established the first independent committee on Union-State Relations under Justice P V Rajamannar, he recalled.

Stalin said the DMK follows the policy of autonomy in the states and federalism at the Centre.

He also recently said that the DMK, with support of like-minded parties nationwide, will push for a constitutional amendment to abolish practice of governor's address at the start of the year.

“The governor is attempting to paralyse state administration and spread slander by talking politics on public platforms. That could be considered his personal choice. But it is inappropriate for him to attempt such action here,” he said.

Recalling his earlier statement from 2023, Stalin reminded the assembly of former chief minister C N Annadurai’s famous quote: “A goat doesn't need a beard, and a country doesn't need a governor's post."

Alleging that the Governor was attempting to “paralyse” the state administration and make political remarks on public platforms, Stalin said such conduct might be a personal choice but was inappropriate in the constitutional scheme of governance.

His comments came in response to TN Governor R N Ravi earlier declining to read the state government prepared text in the Assembly, with the Lok Bhavan claiming "inaccuracies" in it. The Governor walked out of the House without delivering the customary address.