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The Chief Minister tabled the first part of Justice Kurian Joseph committee report on centre-state relations in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin (Photo: PTI File)
Stressing that India’s federalism needs a structural reset, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday proposed an amendment to the Constitution.
His remark came as a continued stand-off between states ruled by the opposition and the BJP-led central government over several issues.
The Chief Minister tabled the first part of the Justice Kurian Joseph committee report on centre-state relations in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
“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 said.
If a State does not have the authority to realise the aspirations of its people, Stalin said that the central government has failed to grant adequate state rights.
While calling for greater autonomy of states, the Chief Minister said Tamil Nadu has progressed socially, economically, in education and infrastructure despite constraints.
Stalin said the DMK follows the policy of autonomy in the states and federalism at the Centre.
Stalin posted a video of his speech in the Tamil Nadu assembly on X and wrote, “Autonomy for the States; Federalism at the Union!”
“Let us strengthen the States with greater powers and rightful authority, and build a strong and truly federal India. Let us carry the idea and necessity of State autonomy across India, unite minds around this vision, and work towards constitutional reforms to realise it,” the CM added.
“மாநிலத்தில் சுயாட்சி! ஒன்றியத்தில் கூட்டாட்சி!”மாநிலங்களுக்கு அதிக அதிகாரங்களையும் உரிமைகளையும் பெற்றுத்தந்து, வலிமையான – உண்மையான கூட்டாட்சி இந்தியாவைக் கட்டமைப்போம்!
மாநில சுயாட்சிக் கருத்தியலின் தேவையை இந்தியா முழுக்கக் கொண்டு சேர்த்து, எண்ணங்களால் ஒன்றிணைத்து,… pic.twitter.com/MeTnY9s4U8
— M.K.Stalin – தமிழ்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@mkstalin) February 18, 2026
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.
February 18, 2026, 14:10 IST
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