BENGALURU: Days after Congress MP DK Suresh’s “nationhood for south India” remark, like-minded parties have mooted a proposal to form a forum of southern states to ensure equitable distribution of resources from the Centre, including individual tax share from the divisible pool.
Basavaraj Rayareddi, economic advisor to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, said the proposal to form an “Economic Alliance of Southern States” was already on the table for discussion, and the stakeholders wanted Karnataka to take the initiative.
Those advocating the forum argue that the move would strengthen the federal fabric while ensuring a say for southern states.
“The objective of the proposed forum is in line with the idea of federalism, where all states are assured of equitable rights and opportunities. The southern states need a powerful platform since their voices are not being heard,” said Rayareddi.
A similar proposal was made in 2018 by Kerala govt, coinciding with Siddaramaiah’s previous tenure as CM.

The Karnataka CM had then complained about the terms of reference of the 15th Finance Commission over tax devolution being unfair. Kerala’s then finance minister, T M Thomas Isaac, called for a meeting of his counterparts in other southern states that year to take a unified stand on the issue. The idea didn’t take off as the Karnataka assembly polls were announced before the stakeholders could take a concrete step.
The concept of a southern forum is gaining momentum afresh, particularly against the backdrop of Congress’s Karnataka unit announcing a protest in Delhi on February 7. This will be followed by the governing parties of Kerala and Telangana holding similar programmes on subsequent days in the national capital.

“We must raise our voice now. There is no other option but to protest. We are even inviting BJP and JD(S) functionaries to join the Delhi protest,” said deputy CM and PCC chief DK Shivakumar.
On whether states like Kerala and Telangana would join hands with Karnataka, Shivakumar said, “For now, we are protesting on our own, and they are separately. Future action will take its own course.”
Siddaramaiah is said to have warmed up to the idea of a southern forum, but said he won’t plunge headlong into it without weighing the pros and cons. “Many potential stakeholders, including the neighbouring states, have suggested forming a forum, and Rayareddi has discussed it with the CM. The focus is currently on the Delhi protest and the state budget on Feb 16. The CM will take a call on the forum after that,” said Naseer Ahmed, political secretary to the CM.
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