DMK, AIADMK skip TN CM's delimitation meet; only 20 of 57 MPs to attend

In a significant political development, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), along with several other parties, have decided to boycott the all-party MPs’ meeting convened by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Saturday (August 8, 2026) to deliberate on the proposed delimitation exercise.

According to attendance details made available by the state government, only 20 of the state’s 57 Members of Parliament are expected to attend the session, while 37 have opted to stay away. The participating MPs primarily represent the Congress and the smaller allies of the ruling TVK. The list includes 12 Congress MPs, two each from the VCK, CPI, and CPI(M), and one each from the MDMK and IUML.

The boycott is led by the DMK, with all its 30 MPs staying away. The AIADMK, which has four MPs, has also decided to skip the event. Other parties joining the boycott include the PMK, MNM, and DMDK, each represented by one MP. This means a substantial section of Tamil Nadu’s parliamentary representation will be absent from the deliberations.

DMK MP Kanimozhi criticised the meeting as unnecessary, alleging that it was aimed at diverting attention from the Cauvery water dispute. She noted that there has been no official announcement from the Union government about tabling a Delimitation Bill during the current Parliament session. “Since the amended draft bill is not even available, there is nothing new to discuss,” she said. The Cauvery issue, a long-standing inter-state water dispute, has been a major political concern in the state.

The meeting was called by Mr. Vijay to formulate a unified state response to the proposed delimitation exercise, which has triggered concerns over the potential reduction of parliamentary seats for southern states. According to an official statement, the consultative meeting of all Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs from Tamil Nadu is scheduled to be held at Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The Delimitation Bill 2026, introduced in the Lok Sabha on April 16, 2026, sought to redraw parliamentary and assembly constituencies, expand the Lok Sabha strength to 850 seats, and implement women’s reservation. However, the bill was not passed as it failed to secure the constitutionally required special two-thirds majority of members present and voting in Parliament. Southern states have argued that a population-based delimitation would unfairly reduce their representation, as their populations have grown at a slower rate compared to northern states.

The absence of the DMK and AIADMK, which are often political rivals, underscores the sensitivity of the issue and raises questions about the effectiveness of the Chief Minister’s initiative in producing a united stance. While the state government has maintained that the meeting is intended to protect Tamil Nadu’s interests, the boycott reflects divergent approaches among the state’s political forces.

Political observers note that the developments could shape the discourse on delimitation in the state. With the bill having already failed in Parliament, attention now shifts to how the state’s political class will engage with the issue. The meeting on Saturday is expected to proceed with the attending MPs, but its reach is likely to be limited in the absence of the major parties.