Tamil Nadu is committed to working constructively with Centre, says Vijay
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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has made a compelling debut at the 11th NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting, advocating for enhanced state autonomy and robust cooperative federalism while outlining an ambitious vision to transform Tamil Nadu into a $1.5 trillion economy by 2036. In his address on June 11, 2026, Vijay firmly pushed for the release of significant pending Central funds, including Rs. 3,284 crore for the Samagra Shiksha Scheme, and reiterated the state's long-standing opposition to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and the three-language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This assertive stance comes amidst a significant political realignment in Tamil Nadu, where Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, sworn in just last month, broke a 60-year dominance by the DMK and AIADMK. The shift has intensified inter-party dynamics, with former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) expressing concerns about the new administration, even boycotting a recent INDIA bloc meeting due to the Congress party's decision to align with the TVK in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu strong economic performance, with double-digit growth rates recently outpacing the national average, underpins its push for greater fiscal federalism and regional development. Looking ahead, Vijay's constructive engagement at NITI Aayog signals a strategic effort to balance state interests with national objectives, but the underlying tensions surrounding fiscal allocations and policy control are unlikely to dissipate soon. The Central Government of India faces continued pressure from states like Tamil Nadu regarding resource distribution and educational mandates, while the TVK government navigates its new political landscape and a challenging relationship with the opposition DMK. Observers will be closely watching how these demands translate into concrete policy shifts and whether this new era of Tamil Nadu politics fosters true cooperative federalism or exacerbates existing Centre-state friction.