Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Southern Council Tackles Delimitation and Inter-State Water Disputes
Leaders from southern Indian states met at a council meeting in Tamil Nadu.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the meeting.
They discussed how future parliamentary seats should be decided.
Karnataka’s leader, D.K. Shivakumar, wanted the 1971 population count and the existing 543 seats to remain the basis for 25 years.
He also wanted women’s reserved seats to fit within the existing number.
Karnataka supported the Mekedatu water project, but Tamil Nadu said it could hurt its water supply.
Kerala’s leader said the Mullaiperiyar dam was unsafe and should eventually be replaced.
The leaders also discussed ways to resolve disagreements over shared rivers and water.
Amit Shah chaired the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu.
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar urged retaining the 1971 census basis and 543 Lok Sabha seats for 25 years.
Shivakumar said women’s reservation should be accommodated within the existing Lok Sabha seats.
Karnataka promoted the Mekedatu project, while Tamil Nadu opposed the proposed Cauvery balancing reservoir.
Kerala’s V.D. Satheesan revived demands for replacing the Mullaiperiyar dam and urged Tamil Nadu to build a dam in its own territory.
- Who
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the meeting, attended by southern-state leaders including D.K. Shivakumar, V.D. Satheesan, C. Joseph Vijay and Chandrababu Naidu.
- What
- The Southern Zonal Council discussed parliamentary delimitation, women’s reservation, the Mekedatu project, the Cauvery dispute and the Mullaiperiyar dam.
- When
- The articles variously identify the meeting as occurring on Thursday and Friday; no specific date is provided.
- Where
- The meeting was held at the Fishermen’s Cove beach resort at Kovalam near Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, also described as a seaside resort in Mahabalipuram.
- Why
- The council met to discuss inter-state and national issues affecting the development and interests of southern states.
State Positions Supporting Shared-River Projects and Existing Arrangements
State Positions Raising Safety and Water-Supply Objections
Mekedatu project
State Positions Supporting Shared-River Projects and Existing Arrangements
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the project was important for Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, arguing that its water would help farmers in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
State Positions Raising Safety and Water-Supply Objections
Tamil Nadu opposed the proposed balancing reservoir across the Cauvery, saying it could block water flow and harm the state’s interests.
Mullaiperiyar dam
State Positions Supporting Shared-River Projects and Existing Arrangements
V.D. Satheesan said Tamil Nadu should build a dam within its own territory, offered to bear the cost, and assured Tamil Nadu its full share of water.
State Positions Raising Safety and Water-Supply Objections
Kerala said the existing dam, located in Kerala and used to store water for parts of Tamil Nadu, was unsafe and could endanger downstream residents; Satheesan called for its decommissioning.
Delimitation and representation
State Positions Supporting Shared-River Projects and Existing Arrangements
D.K. Shivakumar urged using the 1971 census, retaining 543 Lok Sabha seats for 25 years and placing women’s reservation within those seats so southern states would retain political weight.
State Positions Raising Safety and Water-Supply Objections
The articles report an assurance that no southern state would lose seats, but do not provide a separate detailed opposing position on Shivakumar’s specific proposal.
- Meeting
- 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting
- Chair
- Amit Shah, Union Home Minister
- Participating states
- Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana
- Participating Union Territories
- Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep
- Delimitation proposal
- Use the 1971 census, retain 543 Lok Sabha seats for 25 years, and include women’s reservation within those seats
- Mekedatu dispute
- Karnataka said the project would benefit farmers in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry; Tamil Nadu opposed the proposed reservoir
- Mullaiperiyar dispute
- Kerala called the existing dam unsafe and proposed replacement, while offering to bear the cost of a new dam in Tamil Nadu’s territory
