Non-BJP CMs conclave: Understanding M.K. Stalin’s fight for state rights

On Monday, with political momentum against policies of the Narendra Modi government gaining speed, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called for a meeting of the chief ministers of non-BJP-ruled states. Mamata’s call for the conference was readily accepted by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Telangana’s K. Chandrashekar Rao.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan too are expected to extend support. The opposition chief ministers will discuss the “constitutional overstepping” of the governors in their respective states, only to make apparent the growing differences in Centre-state ties.

The move came after Stalin spoke with Mamata on the “brazen misuse of powers” by the constitutional heads of states. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on February 12 had prorogued the assembly and Stalin in a tweet dubbed it as impropriety. Stalin condemned the move by Dhankhar and criticised him, saying “his action goes against the established norms and conventions”.

In a series of tweets, Stalin said the symbolic head of the state should be the role model to uphold the Constitution. Dhankhar replied to Stalin’s tweet, calling it “harsh and hurting” and said that the assembly was prorogued only on the request of the West Bengal government headed by Mamata Banerjee.

However, Stalin and Mamata wasted no time to move forward to bring together the non-BJP chief ministers on a common platform. On February 13, Stalin tweeted saying, “Beloved Didi Mamata Banerjee telephoned me to share her concern and anguish on the Constitutional overstepping and brazen misuse of power by the Governors of non-BJP ruled states.” He also said that she suggested a meeting of opposition chief ministers. “I assured her of DMK’s commitment to upholding State autonomy. Convention of Opposition CMs will soon happen out of Delhi,” Stalin said.

After this, Rao agreed. Thackeray, Vijayan, Jharkhand’s Hemant Soren, Odisha’s Naveen Patnaik and others are yet to accept the invitation by Stalin and Mamata to come together. Incidentally, Stalin—who was a lone fighter during the past few months in taking on the Centre’s attitude through the activities of the governor—has now got support from Mamata and other chief ministers.

“It (coordination between chief ministers) is a good idea. In a democracy, for good governance, we need a good opposition. This move to bring in the non-BJP chief ministers is very much political and significant at this moment. It makes good sense for the non-BJP chief ministers to come together. You have to imagine how Congress looks at this. But this will create a momentum for the 2024 parliamentary elections. Coming together earlier, like this, can help in getting a common minimum programme. So this is the correct time,” says Ramu Manivannan, professor and head of the department of politics and public administration, Madras University.

Stalin’s fight to uphold state autonomy

Stalin, since taking over as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, has been harping on federalism and state autonomy. He has also been trying to renew the fight for state rights and lead the fight, like how his father, M. Karunanidhi, was seen as the face of regional aspirations. Stalin has been vehemently and vociferously opposing BJP’s way of dealing with GST and one nation, one registration proposal, arguing that the Central government is trying to snatch away the departments of the state.

He also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during one of his election campaign speeches, saying, “Just by saying ‘Vanakkam’, you cannot say that you are for the Tamil people. You quote Bharathiyar poems. But you did not allow Bharathi’s tableau in Republic Day parade.” And when the Central government proposed the amendment of the IAS cadre rules, Stalin went on an all-out attack on the Centre. “Demolition is easy but reconstruction has always been a long process,” he argued. And he also termed the amendment as an attempt to weaken the core principles on which the country has been painstakingly built over glorious 75 years.

Fight against Governor R.N. Ravi

The DMK, which is ideologically opposed to the post of governor, has in the past taken objections to the governor interfering in state administration, saying this shows the upper hand of the Centre. Recently, DMK mouthpiece Murasoli had a scathing opinion piece against Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, titled Kokkentru Ninaitharo; Tamilaga Aalunar Ravi penned under the pseudonym Silanthi.

“The governor should understand and get consent for the unanimous opinion of the state by properly intimating the Centre. If he behaves like a big brother, we would like to intimate him about the ancient saying ‘Kokkentru Ninaithaiyo Konganava (from the story of sage Kausika)’,” the article warned. Stalin has also been vociferous saying that the “governor is seen as the agent of the Centre” and that he cannot infringe upon the state’s rights.

Stalin’s moves had received wide appreciation in Tamil Nadu society, leading to the perception he is following the footsteps of his father in talking about state autonomy and federal structure. Incidentally in 1969, the then chief minister Karunanidhi was sent back by deputy prime minister Morarji Desai who did not agree to give funds for tackling the drought situation in the state. In response to this, Karunanidhi suggested a conference of chief ministers of non-Congress-ruled states, which was readily agreed to by the then West Bengal chief minister Ajoy Mukherjee and Kerala’s E.M.S. Namboodiripad. In fact, it was during that period, Karunanidhi was busy working both politically and legally to empower the states to be free from the Centre’s grip and established the Justice P.V. Rajamannar Committee.

Can Stalin afford to go for a non-Congress front?

Meanwhile, Mamata after reaching out to Stalin and other non-BJP chief ministers, said the Congress can “go its own way,” which may not be a pleasing statement for Stalin. Ditching Congress, for Stalin, as Mamata demands, might prove costly. Having lost two elections in 2014 and 2016, without the Congress in the alliance, jettisoning the grand old party could be self-defeating for Stalin. Though Mamata and Stalin share a bonhomie, a limited association with Mamata on federal issues is the only way forward for Stalin, as he cannot afford to ditch the Congress and oppose the BJP from Tamil Nadu.

While trying to take a leaf out of his father’s political path, Stalin might have gone a step forward in upholding state rights and talking about federalism. And Stalin’s moves might have received wide acceptance and appreciation from Tamil Nadu society.

But the fact is that the tweet and the reply to Governor Dhankhar, sources in the corridors of power in Tamil Nadu say, was done in a haphazard manner. The insiders say that the over-enthusiasm of the inner coterie in the state secretariat ended up landing the chief minister in a goof-up. And Dhankhar’s ‘fact check’ was an additional embarrassment for Stalin and the DMK. As a damage control move, Mamata’s tweet of non-BJP chief ministers’ conference has come in as a face-saver for M.K. Stalin.