Mahabalipuram (Chengalpattu district), Aug 20 — Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday convened the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council (SZC), bringing together chief ministers and senior representatives from southern states and Union Territories for discussions on regional cooperation and shared issues.
The meeting, hosted by the Tamil Nadu government, took place at the Taj Fisherman’s Cove hotel in Kovalam, Chengalpattu district. Among those on the dais with Shah were Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who serves as the council’s Vice‑Chairman, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
The Southern Zonal Council comprises Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, along with the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. Amit Shah is the Chairman of the council; the Vice‑Chairmanship rotates among member states, with Tamil Nadu’s chief minister currently holding the post, the Ministry of Home Affairs said.
Zonal Councils act as advisory bodies that provide a platform for the Centre, states and Union Territories to discuss and resolve issues of common interest. According to a government release, 69 meetings of various Zonal Councils and their standing committees have been held since June 2014, with participation from state governments, central ministries and departments. The councils routinely facilitate discussions on disputes and administrative matters between the Centre and states, among member states and UTs, and on matters affecting the region.
Ahead of the SZC meeting, Amit Shah met Chief Minister Vijay in Chennai. Shah later posted about the meeting on X.
After the council session, Shah was scheduled to visit the ancient shore‑temple complex in Mamallapuram. The Archaeological Survey of India notes that Mamallapuram (also called Mamalla) was an ancient sea port referenced in classical sources and shows architectural activity dating back to the Pallava ruler Mahendravarman I.