Synopsis
On March 12, the Congress-led Karnataka government declared its alliance with Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin to oppose the proposed delimitation exercise. CM Siddaramaiah voiced his support during a meeting with Tamil Nadu officials and emphasized the need for a united front against the perceived anti-democratic actions of the Union government.Key Takeaways
- Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments unite against delimitation.
- CM Siddaramaiah expresses support for southern states.
- Meeting scheduled to discuss a unified strategy.
- Collaboration transcending political differences is sought.
- Concerns raised about Union government's actions.
Bengaluru, March 12 (NationPress) The Congress-led government of Karnataka announced on Wednesday its intention to collaborate with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in opposing the planned delimitation process.
Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah revealed this decision during a meeting with a delegation from Tamil Nadu and in a phone call with CM Stalin.
The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) in Bengaluru stated, "Tamil Nadu's Forest Minister K. Ponmudy and Rajya Sabha MP Mohammad Abdullah Ismail met with CM Siddaramaiah at Cauvery Residence in Bengaluru to discuss the ongoing protest against the Union government's 'anti-democratic stance' and its perceived bias toward southern states."
"The Tamil Nadu delegation urged him (Siddaramaiah) to voice his concerns regarding delimitation and support the protest. Previously, CM Stalin had communicated with Siddaramaiah over the same matters," the statement elaborated.
"During talks with the Tamil Nadu delegation and CM Stalin, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his backing for the opposition raised by the southern states," according to the statement.
The statement emphasized that "CM Siddaramaiah firmly stated, 'We unequivocally condemn all actions of the Union government that undermine Karnataka's interests, weaken democracy, and violate the federal principles of the Constitution. We will also lend our support to the struggle against such measures.'"
CM Stalin has also sent a letter to CM Siddaramaiah requesting his support against delimitation.
In his correspondence, Stalin stated he is reaching out to Siddaramaiah with two specific proposals.
"I request your formal agreement to join a Joint Action Committee (JAC) that includes Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka in the south, extending to West Bengal and Odisha in the north," Stalin added.
He also requested the nomination of a senior representative from the Congress party to participate in the JAC and assist in coordinating a unified strategy.
In his letter, CM Stalin further mentioned, "As an initial step towards unified action, I propose an inaugural meeting in Chennai on March 22 to outline our collective direction. This moment requires leadership and collaboration, transcending political differences for our common benefit."
