In a significant political development, former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam has called on current Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to actively participate in the upcoming NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting, scheduled to be hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Panneerselvam emphasized the importance of advocating for Tamil Nadu’s rightful allocations during this crucial meeting.
Panneerselvam criticized Stalin’s planned boycott of the meeting, arguing that such a decision would be detrimental to the interests of the Tamil Nadu populace. He described the boycott as an act against the people of the state.
The former CM further asserted that, during its 17 years in power, the DMK failed to prioritize critical issues such as the transfer of education oversight from the Concurrent List to the State List, and instead, appeared more focused on securing key Cabinet positions.
“It is imperative to engage in the NITI Aayog meeting to voice Tamil Nadu’s needs and secure the necessary support for the state’s development. A boycott would be misguided,” Panneerselvam stated.
He recalled a historical context in 2010 when the Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench formed a five-member panel to address the Mullaiperiyar dispute between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. At that time, the DMK government chose to boycott the panel, leading to criticism from then-AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa, who questioned whether this would benefit Kerala. Eventually, the DMK appointed retired Supreme Court judge A.R. Lakshmanan to represent Tamil Nadu, and in 2014, the state achieved a favorable verdict from the Supreme Court, according to Panneerselvam.
