Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Prakash Karat delivering his address at the seminar on federalism during the CPI(M)‘s 24th party congress in Madurai on Thursday. 
| Photo Credit: MOORTHY G.

Never since the Independence and adoption of the Constitution in 1950 has there been such a serious attack on the principle of Federalism, which is a basic principle of the Constitution, said senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Prakash Karat on Thursday (April 3, 2025).

He spoke at the seminar on “India’s strength is federalism” organised by the CPI(M) as part of the 24th party congress in Madurai.

Today, in every aspect of Centre-State relations, be it political or economic or fiscal, the Union government has been systematically undermining the federal principles, he charged. The Constitution says India is a union of States, but today, the States which comprise the Union are being reduced to subordinate status and “have to go as mendicants” to get resources and funds which are their right to demand, Mr. Karat said.

“What is to be divided between the Centre and States, that is also being systematically violated,” he said, adding Governors have been “interfering” with governance in States.

The Opposition-ruled States were being discriminated by the BJP to the extent that even when there was a natural calamity or a disaster, the non-BJP rules States were deprived of funds, he said. 

“In Kerala, after the Wayanad disaster [landslides], till today, despite intervention of the High Court of Kerala, the State has not got the funds required for rehabilitation and rebuilding the damaged areas,” he added.  

It is good that State governments ruled by the Opposition are fighting for federalism, which also means a fight for democracy, Mr. Karat said.  

The University Grants Commission draft regulations, which the Joint Action Committee formed by many States had opposed, will lead to State-run universities being told who should be the Vice-Chancellors, he added. 

He observed that the change would lead to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) selecting the Vice-Chancellors. 

To defend their rights in several areas, all non-BJP governments and organisations who believe in secularism and democracy should come forward to save the country and take the country forward in progressive, democratic and secular lines, Mr. Karat said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan; Karnataka Higher Education Minister M.C. Sudhakar; senior CPI(M) leaders K. Balakrishnan and P. Shanmugam; and Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan among others were present at the event.