The tensions had been simmering for the last several years. The feeling among the Southern States that they were getting a raw deal from the Centre when it came to financial devolution took centre stage with both Karnataka and Kerala staging protests in the National Capital to highlight what they alleged was the step motherly treatment being meted out to their states.

Tamil Nadu too sent its representatives to join the protest as did Arvind Kejriwal who himself spoke at the meeting organised by the Kerala Government. Both Chief Ministers, Siddaramaiah of Karnataka and Pinarayi Vijayan of Kerala who travelled to Delhi to lead the protest echoed similar sentiments.