LOCAL GOVERNANCE AS A FACTOR IN CENTRE-STATE RELATIONS IN INDIA.

Creation of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj at the Centre and its activities as per the Common Minimum Programme of the UPA government with a view to strengthen the new Panchayati Raj System, has created tensions between the Central and State Governments. In Tamil Nadu it has become a serious issue as the State is known for its espousal of State autonomy. Though the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) are in coalition both at the Centre and the State, they have maintained divergent stands on the Panchayati Raj System. Both governments adopted divergent approaches and methods to strengthen Panchayati Raj, in the process contradicting each other. However, both the Centre and the State take the same position on the issue as to whether panchayat should be a State subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]