Chennai, August 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has urged the Centre to ensure that Southern states do not lose their existing share of representation in Parliament during the proposed delimitation exercise, while reiterating the state’s demand for exemption from NEET and calling for stronger interstate action against drug trafficking.
Vijay raised the issues at the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Taj Fisherman’s Cove in Kovalam, Chengalpattu district. The meeting was hosted by the Tamil Nadu government. Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and representatives of other southern states and Union Territories participated in the deliberations.
On delimitation, Vijay sought a clear legislative assurance that no state would suffer a reduction in its share of parliamentary representation because of population stabilisation. He argued that Southern states had successfully implemented population-control measures while achieving strong human-development and economic outcomes, and said these achievements should not result in reduced political representation.
“Protecting their proportional representation would uphold equity, preserve the federal balance envisaged by the Constitution and strengthen the confidence of states in democratic institutions,” Vijay said.
He also renewed Tamil Nadu’s demand for exemption from NEET, stressing the need to protect social justice and ensure that students from rural areas, government schools and economically weaker sections are not disadvantaged by the existing admission system.
On the drug menace, Vijay called for closer coordination among Southern states and central agencies, including intelligence-sharing, joint enforcement operations and stricter monitoring of online sales of prescription medicines and psychotropic substances.
He said trafficking networks operate across state boundaries and therefore cannot be tackled effectively by individual states acting alone. A coordinated regional mechanism involving police, enforcement agencies and health departments was needed to work towards a drug-free South India.
The Southern Zonal Council provides a platform for the Centre, states and Union Territories to address common regional concerns, interstate disputes and issues relating to development and administrative coordination. Discussions at the meeting also covered infrastructure, water-sharing and regional development.
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