Relevance: Update Federal Relation Notes: GS2,Sec1

Introduction
The Chennai Conclave, hosted by Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin, revived longstanding debates on India’s federal structure. Federalism, though constitutionally enshrined, has seen political distortion and centralisation, especially in recent decades. The event becomes a timely occasion to revisit the evolving nature of centre-state relations.

Historical Context and Federal Friction

• The roots of federal discontent go back to 1984 when PM Indira Gandhi dismissed the Andhra Pradesh government led by N.T. Rama Rao. This sparked nationwide outrage and became a symbol of central overreach.
• In the 1990s, coalitional politics restored some federal balance, but post-2014, the return of a strong centralised government has renewed concerns of authoritarianism and marginalisation of state powers.

Contemporary Concerns Raised at the Conclave

1. Representation Imbalance in Lok Sabha
   • Southern states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala fear that a fresh delimitation exercise will reduce their parliamentary influence due to slower population growth compared to northern states.
   • Leaders like K.T. Rama Rao (TRS) advocate freezing or revising seat allocation to avoid penalising population control success.
2. Demand for Downsizing Larger States
   • The size and scale of governance in a state like Uttar Pradesh is increasingly seen as unmanageable. There is advocacy for bifurcation to improve representation and administrative efficacy.
3. Governor’s Role and Central Interference
   • The misuse of governors to destabilise opposition-led state governments has been a consistent point of contention. The Chennai meet highlighted the need to re-evaluate the governor’s constitutional role.
4. Judicial and Language Concerns
   • Southern parties raised concerns about judicial appointments being skewed in favour of Hindi-belt regions and the imposition of Hindi in public affairs.
   • Federal mechanisms must be sensitive to India’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
5. Call for Political and Institutional Reform
   • Proposals include a re-examination of the Rajamannar Committee and Sarkaria Commission recommendations.
   • Need for a federal forum or permanent Inter-State Council with real power, not symbolic meetings.

Broader Implications and the Way Forward

• The current political climate presents an opportunity to rethink India’s cooperative federalism model.
• Issues like GST compensation, centrally sponsored schemes, and inter-state resource sharing require robust dialogue platforms.
• The Centre must respect states’ autonomy while states should also participate constructively in national policymaking.

Conclusion
The Chennai Conclave rekindles the federal spirit of the Constitution. In the words of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, India is a “Union of States” — this union must remain dynamic, equitable, and responsive. Strengthening fiscal, political, and administrative federalism is crucial to realising the democratic promise of the Constitution.

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