Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin warned on Saturday that federalism, a cornerstone of India’s Constitution, is increasingly under strain. Speaking at a Madras Bar Association event in Chennai, Stalin stressed that the judiciary, along with judges and lawyers, serves as a bulwark against assaults on constitutional principles.

“Federalism, a basic feature of the Constitution, is being affected lately. States’ self-reliance in areas like finance and education must be protected,” he asserted, pointing to recent encroachments on state autonomy.

Stalin lauded the judiciary’s role in upholding constitutional rights and state powers, crediting judges and advocates for their vigilance. Addressing an audience that included Supreme Court Justices M M Sundresh, KV Viswanathan, and R Mahadevan, as well as Madras High Court Chief Justice K R Shriram and Law Minister S Regupathy, he reaffirmed his government’s commitment to fully realizing the Constitution’s vision.

In a light moment, Stalin noted the linguistic diversity at the event—one judge spoke Tamil instead of the expected English, and another switched to English from anticipated Tamil. “This is our two-language policy; this is Tamil Nadu,” he quipped, drawing applause. The occasion marked 75 years since the Constitution’s adoption and the Madras Bar Association’s 160th anniversary.

Stalin detailed state initiatives to strengthen the judiciary, support advocates’ welfare, and advance legal education, underscoring Tamil Nadu’s proactive governance. His remarks come amid growing tensions between the Centre and states over fiscal and administrative autonomy, a recurring theme in his critiques of federal overreach.