Sword of delimitation hanging over our heads, CM Stalin warns of State losing Lok Sabha seats
Stalin emphasized the threat posed by the Union Government's proposed delimitation, which is typically carried out based on population figures.
CM Stalin (Photo: TN DIPR)
CHENNAI: Upping his ante against the BJP-led union government on the issue of the reported delimitation of Parliamentary constituencies, Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday said that if the number of MPs for Tamil Nadu were reduced, it would be an indelible injustice to the state.
Speaking at the all-party meeting organised at the state secretariat to deliberate on the delimitation of Parliamentary constituencies, Stalin said, “The proposed delimitation exercise is deleterious not only to Tamil Nadu but the whole of south India. There will not be, and must not be a difference of opinion among us.”
Reiterating that delimitation poses a threat to the federal structure of India and the political rights of the southern states, the Chief Minister said, “It is a frontal assault on the political representation rights of Tamil Nadu. If such an unequal and unjust delimitation of constituencies were implemented, it would muzzle the voice of Tamil Nadu in Indian politics. It will reduce the state’s strength in safeguarding its welfare.”
“The union government refuses to accept the rightful voices of the state even when there are 39 MPs from here. If the numbers are reduced further, it would be an indelible injustice done to Tamil Nadu. Hence, we must categorically state our stance in unison. We must jointly defeat the conspiracy,” the CM said.
Arguing that reducing TN’s representation in the Parliament and Legislative Assembly due to population-based delimitation was tantamount to punishing Tamil Nadu among the southern states that contributed immensely to national development by effectively implementing population control measures, Stalin said that the meeting has been organized to demonstrate that Tamil Nadu has been forced to undertake a massive struggle for its rights.
Recalling the February 14, 2024, TN Assembly resolution emphasising that the state’s rights, principle of federalism and representation of the people of Tamil Nadu must not be affected, the CM said, “If the existing tally of 543 seats were to continue, our seats could be reduced due to low population. It is said that TN could lose eight seats, meaning, Tamil Nadu would only have 31 seats and not the existing 39. If it were increased to 848 seats and delimitation undertaken as per the existing framework, we must get 22 additional seats. But if it were done based on the current population, we would only get an additional ten seats, thereby losing 12 seats.”
