CHENNAI: The TVK govt’s decision to disband the Kurian Joseph-headed high-level committee on Union-State relations has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum, with the DMK and even parties in the ruling party’s own alliance joining hands in opposition. The BJP, however, has welcomed the move.Former chief minister M K Stalin, leader of the opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin and several other political leaders, including MPs Su Venkatesan and D Ravikumar, condemned the decision.Stalin criticised the move in a post on X, saying the TVK govt had said “no to state rights and yes to theatre rights”. He was referring to the decision to disband the committee constituted by the previous DMK regime to examine Centre-state relations and recommend measures to protect state rights, even as the govt allowed six shows a day for films during their first week of release.Udhayanidhi accused the TVK govt of betraying the state by dismantling the committee. DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi said the decision showed how little the govt cared about state rights. She alleged that Vijay’s govt had disbanded the panel to please certain people in the BJP-led Union govt and build a good rapport with them.MMK leader M H Jawahirullah, Left party leaders P Shanmugam and M Veerapandian, and TVK ally VCK also strongly opposed the decision. CPM MP Su Venkatesan described it as a “major loss to collective efforts against the attack on the Constitution and federal principles”, while VCK MP and general secretary D Ravikumar urged the govt to reconsider its decision.Ravikumar pointed out that VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan had already issued a statement urging the govt not to disband the committee. Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu had also reiterated the party’s position in the Assembly.In contrast, BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy welcomed chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s decision, calling it “an appropriate and practically correct decision.”Electricity and law minister C T R Nirmal Kumar said the DMK had taken up the issue to divert attention from the Periyar Arivulagam book purchase row. He said one of the three members of the committee resigned on May 4 and that the TVK govt had constituted a new Law Commission, comprising full-time members, with a mandate to examine Union-state relations.
