CPI(M) leader Shanmugam urges Tamil Nadu government to convene all-party meeting on new Secretariat site selection
CPI(M) leader P. Shanmugam has urged the Tamil Nadu government to hold an all-party meeting regarding the site selection for a new Secretariat. He highlighted concerns from the local fishing community and the need for consensus before construction begins.
Why it matters
The location of a state's administrative headquarters involves significant public policy, environmental, and social impact considerations.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) State secretary P. Shanmugam on Friday (September 11, 2026) said the Tamil Nadu government had hurriedly issued a Government Order for the construction of a new Secretariat at Pattinapakkam (Foreshore Estate) in Chennai. He demanded that an all-party meeting be convened to seek the views of all political parties and arrive at a consensus on selecting a suitable location.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Mr. Shanmugam said there was no denying that the existing Secretariat was facing space constraints. However, the government should not act in haste while planning to construct an administrative headquarters and Assembly complex, he said.
Mr. Shanmugam said the fishing community living in the area, close to the identified location in Pattinapakkam, had been opposing the proposal to construct the new Secretariat there. The Tamil Nadu government should listen to the concerns of the fisherfolk.
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