Chengalpattu (Tamil Nadu), Aug 20, 2026 — Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday convened the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council (SZC) in Tamil Nadu, bringing together chief ministers and senior representatives from the region to discuss matters of common interest.
The meeting, hosted by the Tamil Nadu government, was held at the Taj Fisherman’s Cove hotel in Kovalam, Chengalpattu district. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu were among those in attendance. Amit Shah, who chairs the Southern Zonal Council, met CM Vijay in Chennai ahead of the session and later joined state leaders on stage for the proceedings.
“The Southern Zonal Council provides a platform for the Centre, states and Union Territories to discuss and resolve regional issues,” officials said. Amit Shah serves as the council’s chairman, while Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay holds the vice-chairmanship, a post that rotates among member-state chief ministers.
The SZC comprises Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, along with the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. Zonal Councils are advisory bodies under the Ministry of Home Affairs that facilitate dialogue on inter-state disputes, Centre-state coordination and other matters affecting the region.
According to an official release, since June 2014 some 69 meetings of various Zonal Councils and their standing committees have been held, drawing participation from state governments, central ministries and departments.
After the formal session, Shah planned a visit to the shore-temple complex at Mamallapuram (also known as Mamalla), a historic port town with architectural activity dating back to the reign of Mahendravarman I. The Archaeological Survey of India notes Mamallapuram’s historical importance as a maritime hub referenced in ancient works such as the Periplus and by classical geographers.