On India’s Independence Day, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin issues a powerful call, urging states across the nation to begin a legal fight for greater self-rule. This urgent demand highlights the continuing tension between central and state powers, pushing a critical national debate into the spotlight. His statement, delivered on this essential day, underlines the deep need for states to have more control over their own matters, setting the stage for potential legal battles over how power is shared within the country. This move brings new focus to the ongoing discussion about the true meaning of independence for all parts of the nation.
Chief Minister Calls for Greater State Powers
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin spoke about the need for states to regain their rightful powers on Independence Day, August 15, 2025. He stated that taking legal steps is the only way to get back powers that have been taken away from states, especially in areas like education. The Chief Minister made these remarks while hoisting the national flag at Fort St. George in Chennai. He pointed out that state governments often have to struggle and even go to court to get their fair share of funds from the central government, which he said is not good for the idea of federalism in India. The Chief Minister expressed concern that the powers of state governments are being steadily reduced. He mentioned that in recent years, the central government has made many attempts to take away the rights of state governments in various essential areas, including education and healthcare. He stressed that states are closer to the people and therefore need more power to serve them effectively. He added that this situation not only affects the growth of individual states but also impacts the unity of India.
Understanding the Demand for State Power
The call for more power for states, also known as state autonomy, has a long history in India. The idea of federalism in India means that power is shared between the central government and the state governments. But, there have been ongoing discussions and concerns about too much power being held by the central government and the weakening of states’ authority. The Constitution of India divides powers into three lists:
- Union List: Subjects where only the central government can make laws (like defense, foreign affairs, banking).
- State List: Subjects where only state governments can make laws (like police, public health, local government).
- Concurrent List: Subjects where both the central and state governments can make laws (like education, marriage).
But, if a state law conflicts with a central law on a concurrent subject, the central law usually takes precedence. Over time, there has been a feeling that states’ powers, especially in the Concurrent List, have been lessened. Education, for example, was originally a state subject but was later moved to the Concurrent List, which some states see as a loss of their control.
Long History of the Demand from Tamil Nadu
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the ruling party in Tamil Nadu led by M. K. Stalin, has a long history of fighting for state autonomy. The party was founded on the idea of true federalism and securing greater autonomy for states.
“Implementing true federalism by amending the Indian Constitution and securing greater autonomy for the states.” – Perarignar Anna, DMK founder (1965)
In 1969, under then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, the Tamil Nadu government set up the Rajamannar Commission to study the relationship between the central and state governments. This commission was formed to suggest ways to get more power for states, especially in money and law-making matters. Based on this report, in 1974, a resolution for state autonomy was passed in the Tamil Nadu assembly. This resolution asked the central government to accept the commission’s ideas and change the Constitution to make India truly federal. A significant outcome of these efforts was that in 1974, M. Karunanidhi became the first Chief Minister to hoist the national flag on Independence Day at Fort St. George, a right previously held only by governors. In 2025, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin announced the creation of a new high-level committee to look into central-state relations. This committee, led by former Supreme Court Justice Kurian Joseph, will review constitutional rules and policies, look at the effect of subjects moved from the State List to the Concurrent List. suggest ways to improve Tamil Nadu’s administrative, law-making. judicial power while keeping national unity.
Current Issues and Reasons for the Push
Chief Minister Stalin’s recent call for legal action comes amid several ongoing issues between Tamil Nadu and the central government. One major concern is related to money matters. States, including Tamil Nadu, claim they do not receive their fair share of taxes and funds from the central government. Another key point of tension is the role of the Governor. Governors, who are appointed by the central government, have often been seen as interfering with the work of state governments. For example, delays in approving crucial laws passed by the state assembly have been a frequent issue. Chief Minister Stalin has alleged that the central government is trying to weaken elected state governments through such actions. The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions is another area of disagreement. Tamil Nadu has strongly opposed NEET, arguing that it puts rural and poor students at a disadvantage and affects the state’s ability to control its education policies. The state government passed a law to bypass NEET, which is now facing legal challenges.
Reactions from Other Political Groups
The push for state autonomy by M. K. Stalin and the DMK has drawn various reactions from other political parties. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu, has stated that it will never compromise on the state’s autonomy and will work to protect state rights. But, the DMK has criticized the AIADMK, alleging that they have surrendered the state’s autonomy by aligning with the central ruling party. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which leads the central government, has dismissed the DMK’s moves as a “political ploy” and accused the party of weakening national unity. Some BJP leaders have questioned the need for such a resolution and suggested it is a distraction from other issues. Other chief ministers from non-BJP ruled states have also voiced concerns about federalism and state powers. For example, the Chief Minister of Karnataka also spoke about resource discrimination from the central government on Independence Day. Left parties have supported Stalin’s stance, criticizing the central government for attempts to weaken democratically elected state governments and for governors acting on behalf of the ruling party at the Centre.
The Path Ahead: Legal and Political Battles
Chief Minister Stalin has emphasized that the only way to protect the rights, powers. financial share of states is through both political and legal battles. He stated that the time has come to take preliminary steps for such legal actions. This indicates a potential increase in legal challenges from state governments against central government policies or actions they view as undermining state autonomy. The ongoing debates highlight the complex nature of federalism in India, where there is a constant effort to balance a strong central authority with the need for states to have enough power to govern themselves effectively. The formation of the new committee in Tamil Nadu and the call for legal action mark a significant step in this long-standing discussion. 
