Chennai – Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday chaired an all-party meeting to address concerns over the impending delimitation process, urging the Union Government to ensure that any future constituency revisions are based on the 1971 population census. The meeting concluded with a resolution demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi provide a formal assurance in Parliament that delimitation from 2026 to the next 30 years would adhere to this precedent.
Additionally, Stalin announced the formation of a Joint Action Committee comprising Members of Parliament (MPs) from Southern States to advocate for these demands, organize protests, and raise public awareness on the issue.
Broad Political Consensus Against Population-Based Delimitation
The meeting, convened at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat, saw participation from over 55 political parties and organizations, including key regional and national leaders. Attendees included AIADMK Organizing Secretary D. Jayakumar, Congress State President and MLA Selvaperunthagai, CPI State Secretary Mutharasan, CPM State Secretary Shanmugham, VCK Chief Thirumavalavan, MDMK Chief Vaiko, TVK General Secretary N. Anand, Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi Founder Velmurugan, PMK President Anbumani, Dravidar Kazhagam Leader Veeramani, MNM President Kamal Haasan, and several others.
Delimitation: A 'Sword Hanging Over Southern States'
Expressing grave concerns over the potential reduction in parliamentary representation for Tamil Nadu, Stalin described the issue as a "sword hanging over the heads of Southern states." He pointed out that Tamil Nadu’s success in population control—achieved through family planning, women’s empowerment, and public health initiatives—was now being unfairly penalized under a population-based delimitation approach.
“If the 543 existing parliamentary constituencies remain unchanged, Tamil Nadu risks losing eight seats, reducing its current 39 MPs to 32 due to its lower population growth. If the total number of constituencies is increased to 848, the state should ideally gain 22 seats based on the percentile increase. However, under the current population-based delimitation formula, Tamil Nadu will receive only 10 additional seats, leading to a net loss of 12 constituencies in comparison," Stalin explained.
He emphasized that both scenarios weaken Tamil Nadu’s representation in Parliament, reinforcing the need for an alternative approach.
Resolution Opposing Population-Based Delimitation
The all-party meeting passed five key resolutions, strongly opposing delimitation based solely on population figures, arguing that it threatens India’s federal structure and disproportionately impacts Southern states.
Stalin stressed that states like Tamil Nadu, which actively pursued population control policies, should not be penalized by diminished political representation. He recalled that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had assured in 2000 that delimitation would be based on the 1971 census to incentivize family planning efforts nationwide. The Tamil Nadu CM urged PM Modi to provide a similar commitment, ensuring that delimitation rules remain unchanged until at least 2056.
“Tamil Nadu is not against delimitation. However, it should not become a punishment for states that have successfully implemented social welfare measures over the past 50 years,” Stalin declared.
Formation of Joint Action Committee & Future Course of Action
To mobilize support and intensify opposition, Stalin announced that a Joint Action Committee would be constituted, comprising MPs from Tamil Nadu and other Southern states. The committee will coordinate protests, engage with stakeholders, and generate public awareness on the implications of delimitation.
"We will extend formal invitations to political parties across the Southern states to participate in this movement," the Chief Minister added.
BJP, Tamil Manila Congress, and Naam Tamilar Katchi Abstain
Notably, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Tamil Manila Congress (TMC), and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chose to abstain from the meeting, signaling potential political differences on the issue.
As the debate over delimitation and representation intensifies, Tamil Nadu and its Southern allies appear poised for a prolonged political battle to safeguard their parliamentary presence and uphold federal equity.
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