Union Home Minister Amit Shah presided over the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. The council brings together Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, along with Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. The meeting took up issues needing coordination between the Centre and the southern States and UTs. Zonal Councils were set up under Sections 15 to 22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, as advisory forums for Centre-State and inter-State cooperation.