The Tamil Nadu government hosted the meeting, which brought together senior political and administrative leaders from across southern India. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay attended the meeting as Vice-Chairman, along with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan and Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. Leaders and senior officials from the participating Union Territories also took part.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting on August 20, 2026, at the Taj Fisherman’s Cove hotel in Kovalam, Chengalpattu district, near Chennai.
Chief Ministers and senior representatives from the southern states and Union Territories participated in the meeting, news agency ANI reported. Earlier reporting noted: Vijay, Shivakumar, Chandrababu Naidu on stage: Amit Shah’s meeting brings Southern CMs together Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday brought key southern leaders together at the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council in Tamil Nadu, with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay , Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu among those attending. The wider purpose is to create a regular channel for dialogue between the Centre and southern states and to find practical solutions through cooperation.
Home Minister Amit Shah’s Chennai visit and the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting therefore go beyond a single government meeting.
Earlier reporting noted: The meeting was held at the Taj Fisherman’s Cove hotel in Kovalam, Chengalpet district, and hosted by the Tamil Nadu government. Earlier reporting noted: Amit Shah is the Chairman of the council, while Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is its Vice-Chairman, the report added.
