For nearly a century, the Dravidian movement has been strongly advocating the need for de-centralisation of powers to accelerate growth and implement a development model that benefits everyone. Hence, my announcement in the Legislative Assembly — on constituting a three-member high-level committee to review the provisions of the Constitution, laws and policies regarding Centre-State relations, and recommend appropriate steps to strengthen the States’ autonomy and ensure a fair federal balance — was the next logical step in our quest to push back the ever-increasing intrusiveness of the Union into State domains.

The Constitution of India clearly states that India is a ‘Union of States’. This preamble exemplifies the inherent powers that are vested with the States. Our party’s founder, C.N. Annadurai, in his Rajya Sabha speeches, had repeatedly highlighted the need for the Union government to devolve adequate powers to the States. The fundamental principle of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is ‘Self-rule in the States; collective rule at the Union’. In this regard, our leader Kalaignar (former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi) formed a three-member commission headed by Justice P.V. Rajamannar to realise this goal.