T he rationalisation of GST brought cheer to consumers, but triggered another row between the Centre and some States which fear a decline in revenue collection. Opposition-ruled States have been at loggerheads with the Centre over centrally sponsored schemes, release of disaster relief funds, and the Finance Commission’s recommended share. Some of these issues have reached the Supreme Court. Is federalism in retreat under single-party hegemony? Yamini Aiyar and A. Kalaiyarasan discuss the question in a conversation moderated by Sharath S. Srivatsa . Edited excerpts:

Is the strain between the Opposition-ruled States and the Centre a matter of development needs or is it politics at play?

A. Kalaiyarasan : The federal coalition of regional parties that emerged in the 1990s offers le

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