DMK Hosts Historic Delimitation Meeting in Chennai, CM Stalin Calls for Unity

Tamil Nadu’s ruling party, DMK, hosted its first major meeting on delimitation in Chennai, marking a significant moment in India’s political landscape.

Chief Minister MK Stalin described the event as a historic day, underscoring the united stance of southern states in safeguarding India’s federal structure.

A Landmark Day for Fair Delimitation

On Saturday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin welcomed leaders from several states to the meeting, highlighting their shared commitment to ensuring fair delimitation.

In a post on X, Stalin wrote, “Today will be etched in history as the day when states that have contributed to our nation’s development came together to safeguard its federal structure by ensuring #FairDelimitation.”

Stalin emphasized that the gathering was not just a meeting but the beginning of a movement aimed at shaping the country’s political future.

He argued that delimitation should not be based on current population figures, warning that it would reduce the political influence of southern states in Parliament.

Leaders Attending the Meeting

The meeting saw the participation of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Leaders from the Shiromani Akali Dal, Indian Union Muslim League, and Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar were also present.

The DMK reached out to leaders from seven states, including Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, and Punjab. Stalin called the gathering a “historic day for Indian federalism.”

BJP’s Response and Criticism

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed the meeting as a “delusional drama.” Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai criticized Stalin for not organizing similar meetings to address water-sharing disputes over the Cauvery and Mullaiperiyar rivers.

BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan called it a “corruption-hiding meeting” for the attending leaders.

Annamalai accused Stalin of using the issue for political gain, sharing a video of state minister TM Anbarasan making a controversial remark about population growth in northern states. He argued that DMK ministers were deliberately insulting northern states.

Understanding the Delimitation Issue

Delimitation refers to the redrawing of constituency boundaries and the redistribution of parliamentary seats based on population. The DMK opposes the proposed delimitation, arguing that it would reduce Tamil Nadu’s political representation in Parliament.

In March, Stalin urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use the 1971 population figures as the basis for delimitation for the next 30 years. He warned that reducing Tamil Nadu’s current 7.18% representation would weaken its political voice.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the issue on March 21, assuring that southern states would not lose a single parliamentary seat.

He accused Stalin of spreading misinformation and called for national unity, insisting that Hindi is not in competition with other Indian languages.

Key Points from the Meeting

At the meeting, Stalin stressed that delimitation should not punish states that successfully controlled population growth. He called the Joint Action Committee (JAC) essential for raising public awareness about the issue.

Stalin warned that delimitation would damage the foundation of India’s federalism.

He called Amit Shah’s assurance of no loss of parliamentary seats “confusing” and demanded greater clarity. Stalin proposed establishing the ‘Fair Delimitation Joint Action Group’ to maintain pressure on the central government.

Pinarayi Vijayan: ‘Sword of Damocles’ Over Southern States

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly opposed the delimitation proposal, calling it a political tool to weaken southern states. He argued that it would benefit northern states where the BJP has greater influence.

“The delimitation exercise is hanging over our heads like the sword of Damocles,” Vijayan said, accusing the central government of penalizing southern states for successfully implementing population control measures.

He warned that reduced representation would mean less influence and fewer resources.

Revanth Reddy: ‘Demographic Penalty’ for South India

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy described the proposed delimitation as a “demographic penalty.” He argued that southern states contribute more to the national economy but receive less in return.

“We achieved the fastest economic growth, bigger GDP, and better governance. Yet, we contribute more to the exchequer and receive far less,” Reddy said. He demanded that southern states’ share in Parliament be increased from 24% to 33%.

Reddy urged the central government to avoid population-based seat allocation, warning that it would silence the political voice of southern states.

Bhagwant Mann: BJP Targeting Opposition States

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accused the BJP of manipulating the delimitation process to weaken opposition states. He claimed that states where the BJP struggles to win would see reduced seats, while BJP-dominated states would gain.

Mann proposed that future JAC meetings be held in Punjab to strengthen the opposition’s stand against the delimitation proposal.

Udhayanidhi Stalin: ‘Unfair to Successful States’

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin called the proposed delimitation process “unfair,” arguing that states that controlled population growth should not be penalized.

He pointed out that the last delimitation was conducted in 1973 using the 1971 Census data.

“The Constitution was amended twice to freeze delimitation,” Udhayanidhi Stalin said, adding that the freeze would expire in 2026. He demanded that the central government clarify its stance on the matter.

DK Shivakumar: ‘Southern States as ATM Machines’

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar described the proposed delimitation as a “betrayal of constitutional promises.” He accused the central government of treating southern states like “ATM machines” by extracting more tax revenue while offering little in return.

Shivakumar vowed to fight politically and legally to protect the representation of southern states.

KT Rama Rao: ‘Threat to Democracy’

BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) warned that the delimitation proposal could lead to authoritarianism. He argued that representation should reflect economic contribution and governance efficiency rather than population size.

KTR proposed increasing state assembly seats rather than Lok Sabha seats to improve governance. He highlighted that southern states contribute 36% of India’s GDP despite accounting for only 19% of the population.

BJP’s Protest and Political Fallout

The Tamil Nadu BJP staged black flag protests across the state, accusing Stalin of political theatrics. Annamalai criticized Stalin for failing to address other critical state issues, such as garbage dumping and water-sharing disputes.