Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Amit Shah Chairs Southern Zonal Council Meeting in Tamil Nadu
Amit Shah led a meeting of southern Indian states and Union Territories.
The meeting was the 31st gathering of the Southern Zonal Council.
It took place on August 20 in Kovalam near Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu.
Leaders discussed how states can work together and solve shared problems.
They talked about disagreements over sharing river water.
They also discussed safety, development, education, healthcare and special courts for serious crimes against women and children.
Several reports said Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala were represented, but they differed about which senior leaders attended.
The council is meant to help state and central governments cooperate through discussion.
Amit Shah chaired the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting on August 20.
The meeting took place at Kovalam near Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu, according to several reports.
Members discussed river-water disputes involving Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
The agenda included Centre-state coordination, security, development, education, healthcare and special courts for sexual-offence cases.
Reports differed over attendance, with some indicating chief ministers participated and others saying certain states sent deputy chief ministers.
- Who
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the meeting, with representatives from southern states and Union Territories attending.
- What
- The 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting addressed inter-state disputes, Centre-state coordination and national issues.
- When
- August 20, with some participants arriving on the preceding Wednesday evening.
- Where
- Kovalam near Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu; reports variously described the venue as being near Chennai or at Mamallapuram.
- Why
- The council provides a forum for cooperation and dialogue on issues involving multiple states, Union Territories and the Centre.
Reports of Chief-Minister Attendance
Reports of Deputy-Chief-Minister Attendance
Representation from Telangana and Karnataka
Reports of Chief-Minister Attendance
Some reports stated that Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka attended and that Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar took part.
Reports of Deputy-Chief-Minister Attendance
Another report said Telangana and Karnataka were likely to send deputy chief ministers rather than their chief ministers.
Kerala representation
Reports of Chief-Minister Attendance
Reports identified V.D. Satheesan as Kerala’s participating chief minister.
Reports of Deputy-Chief-Minister Attendance
The reports did not provide a separate alternative account of Kerala’s representative, but attendance descriptions varied across sources.
Meeting location
Reports of Chief-Minister Attendance
Several reports described the meeting as being at Kovalam near Mamallapuram, close to Chennai.
Reports of Deputy-Chief-Minister Attendance
Other descriptions referred to the meeting simply as being in Mamallapuram near Chennai, creating a difference in how the venue was identified.
- Meeting
- 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council
- Chair
- Amit Shah, Union Home Minister
- Date
- August 20
- Venue
- Kovalam near Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu
- Member states
- Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana
- Union Territories
- Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep
- Major issues
- River-water disputes, special courts for sexual-offence cases, education, security, development, healthcare and Centre-state coordination
Sources
Shah to chair southern CMs meet in Tamil Nadu today
Amit Shah to chair southern zonal council meeting in TN today
Amit Shah Chairs 31st Southern Zonal Council Meeting in Chennai; Bhatti Attends
Southern Zonal Council Meet: HM Shah to meet CMs of Southern states, UTs
