Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin.
Credit: PTI File Photo
Chennai: Taking the lead among Southern states, the DMK dispensation in Tamil Nadu has convened an all-party meeting on March 5 to discuss the impact of the Delimitation exercise due in 2026 on the state and draft a “joint response” in asking the BJP-led Union Government to adopt a “fair and transparent approach” that upholds true federalism.
The decision to hold deliberations with 40 political parties in Tamil Nadu registered with the Election Commission of India (ECI) was taken at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister M K Stalin. Inviting all political parties is a departure from previous occasions when the DMK dispensation had chosen to engage only with parties that are represented in the 234-member assembly for discussions on important issues.
Stalin, who had in the past advocated people to have more kids at least for the sake of increased political representation, termed delimitation as a “Damocles Sword” hanging over the heads of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Telangana, which together account for 129 Lok Sabha seats.
"Tamil Nadu has been forced to wage a massive struggle to secure its rights (from the Union Government),” Stalin said in an oblique reference to the running battle between the State and the Centre on a host of issues.
The all-party meeting on Delimitation is yet another salvo by the DMK against the Union Government, which Stalin accuses of “avenging” Tamil Nadu by not allotting enough funds for development projects and “denying” its rightful share in devolution of funds. By accusing the BJP of trying to reduce Tamil Nadu’s representation in Lok Sabha though there is no word as yet on the constitution of the Delimitation Commission, Stalin has hinted that this will be a key election issue in 2026.
The meeting also comes at a time the DMK is projecting the BJP as “anti-Tamil Nadu” in the backdrop of the Union Government pushing the state to implement the contentious three-language formula. Stalin has been sharpening his attacks on the BJP by calling it as a party that was merely interested in fomenting communal tensions in the state.
That the DMK was out to milk the issue politically became clear with the party’s IT wing ensuring that #FairDelimitationforTN was trending on X.
Stalin believes the Delimitation exercise due in 2026, if carried out solely on the basis of population, will result in an injustice to states like Tamil Nadu that have effectively controlled population since the 1970s. He is also of the opinion that any reduction in the number of Lok Sabha seats only means that performing states are being penalised, while states that were never serious about population control were being rewarded.
The Southern states want the “present ratio” of Parliament and Assembly constituencies in states which were fixed based on the 1971 Census to continue till all states follow population control measures rigorously.
The Chief Minister said the number of Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu would come down to 31 from 39 if the Delimitation was carried out on population basis if the total number of seats are capped at the current 543.
“A democratic process should not penalise states that have successfully managed population growth, led in development, and made significant contributions to national progress. We need a fair, transparent, and equitable approach that upholds true federalism,” Stalin said.
The Chief Minister also said DMK was ready for another language struggle if the BJP continues to sow the seeds for it by pushing for the implementation of a three-language policy.
“Even if the total number of seats in Lok Sabha are increased, Tamil Nadu will only stand to lose. The state which is at the forefront of all parameters will lose political representation, resulting in far-reaching implications. We did control the population as asked by the Union Government. But states that have failed will gain seats which is unfair,” Stalin added.
The “penalized” feeling isn’t related to Delimitation alone but extends to the devolution of Central taxes, which has been on the downslide in successive Finance Commissions.
With just 130 seats across the five states and Puducherry, the South already feels it isn’t able to play a role in the government formation even if it votes en bloc, and these states say it is natural for them to feel threatened over any reduction from the current representation that is already considered low.
Even if the number of Parliament seats is increased, the South is likely to get a raw deal as the number of seats for Northern states will witness an exponential increase, while their numbers will go up only marginally.
States like Tamil Nadu seem to have a valid point. For instance, the population of Bihar and Tamil Nadu was almost the same in 1971 as the states got 40 and 39 Lok Sabha seats respectively.