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Basavaraj Rayareddi, economic advisor to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, said the proposal to form a ‘Southern States Economic Alliance’ was already on the table for discussion and stakeholders wanted Karnataka to take the lead.
Supporters of the forum argue that the move would strengthen the federal fabric while ensuring the participation of southern states.
“The objective of the proposed forum is in line with the idea of federalism, where all states are assured of fair rights and opportunities. The southern states need a powerful platform since their voices are not heard “, Rayareddi said.
A similar proposal was made in 2018 by the Kerala government, coinciding with Siddaramaiah’s previous tenure as CM.
The Karnataka CM had then complained about the 15th Finance Commission’s mandate regarding fiscal decentralization being unfair. The then Finance Minister of Kerala, TM Thomas Isaac, called for a meeting of his counterparts from other southern states that year to take a unified stand on the issue. The idea did not take off as the Karnataka assembly elections were announced before stakeholders could take concrete steps.
The concept of a Southern forum is once again gaining momentum, especially in the context of the Karnataka Congress unit announcing a protest in Delhi on February 7. This protest will be followed by the ruling parties of Kerala and Telangana who will organize similar programs on the following days in the national capital. .
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“We have to raise our voice now. There is no option but to protest. We even invite functionaries of the BJP and JD(S) to join the Delhi protest,” the vice-president said. CM chief and PCC chief DK Shivakumar.
On whether states like Kerala and Telangana would join hands with Karnataka, Shivakumar said, “For now, we are protesting alone, and they are doing it separately. Future action will take its own course.
Siddaramaiah was said to be in favor of the idea of a southern forum, but said he would not jump into it headlong without weighing the pros and cons. “Many potential stakeholders, including neighboring states, have suggested forming a forum, and Rayareddi has discussed it with the CM. The current focus is on the Delhi protest and the state budget on 16 February. The CM will take a call at the forum. after that,” said Naseer Ahmed, political secretary to the CM.
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