ASSERTING that the proposed delimitation exercise based on population would not be “fair” to southern States, the DMK-led Joint Action Committee meeting on Saturday demanded that the Centre should extend the freeze on Parliamentary constituencies, based on the 1971 Census population, by another 25 years and decided to submit a joint representation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the ongoing Parliamentary session. A political consensus also emerged to fight against“population” as the yardstick to determine delimitation and it was resolved during themeeting, which was held to ensure “fair delimitation”, not to lose representation for southern states.Politically, themeeting, which was attended by three Chief Ministers, a deputy CM and leaders of 14 parties including the BRS, BJD and DMK from six States in a show of solidarity on the issue, was a shot in the arm for Chief Minister M K Stalin and his party DMK, ahead of the Assembly election in Tamil Nadu next year. “

 

The upcomingor futurepopulation-based delimitationofconstituencies based on the next census will greatly affect a few States. We should all be absolutely sure thatdelimitationbasedon the current population cannotbeaccepted,”Stalinasserted. He also said a legal option could be explored and favoured setting up an expert panel to draw up the political and legal action plan. Addressing the meeting, KeralaChiefMinister Pinarayi Vijayan termed the proposed delimitation as a ‘sword of Damocles’ hanging over the states, especially in southern India, which implemented programs to control the population. He urged the Centre to engage in “meaningful dialogues” before going ahead with theprocess.Delimitation, if done after the Census, will lead to an increase in seats for northern states and a reduction for southern states.“Such a cut in seats for the south and an increase for the north will suit the BJP as it holds greater influence in the north,” he claimed. Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had accused Stalin of spreading “misinformation,” over the delimitationissue andassured that southern states will not lose a “single Parliamentary seat.” UnionFinanceMinister Nirmala Sitharaman charged the DMK was raising “emotional”issueslikealleged

 

Hindi imposition and delimitation as it had nothing to showcase asitsownachievementsbefore the people during next year’s Assembly pollsinTamilNadu. The DMK, however, described the meeting as a “historic first,”in the annals of independent India, involving 7 states including Tamil Nadu and 14 political parties.“DMK President (Stalin) is deciding national politics, the JAC resolution is causing political tremors in Delhi,” the party said. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy said: “Do not increase LokSabhaseatnumbers. IfBJP does delimitation exercise based on population, south Indiawillloseitspoliticalvoice and north will make us secondary citizens. We will not accept delimitation based on population because then states like UP, Bihar, MP, Rajasthan, will dominate rest of the country. We cannot accept it any cost.” TN DELIMITATION MEET DONE WITH EYE ON 2026 POLLS, SAYS NIRMALA: UNION Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturdaycharged theDMKwas raising“emotional”issueslike alleged Hindi imposition and Parliament delimitation as it had nothing to showcase asits

 

ownachievementsbeforepeopleduringnextyear’sAssembly elections in Tamil Nadu. Slamming theState’slawand order situation, she said there was “lawlessness.” Sitharaman targeted theruling party over the Anna Universitywomanstudentsexual assault case. “What happened to that woman ? Is the accused your party worker or not? Till date, what is the answer for the Kallakurichi incident,” she asked about the 2024 hooch tragedy that killed many persons. She questioned the DMK as to what has its government achieved ‘distinctly’ due to its efforts and wondered if it can mention anywelfaremeasures brought to Tamil Nadu. “Nothing,” she said.