TN assembly: DMK claims CM diluted delimitation stand, TVK rejects

The Tamil Nadu assembly witnessed a sharp political confrontation on Friday between the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) over the state's stance on the upcoming delimitation exercise.

Delimitation is the process of redrawing the boundaries of Lok Sabha and state assembly constituencies based on population changes. The last nationwide delimitation, based on the 1971 census, was frozen by a constitutional amendment until 2026. With the freeze set to expire, southern states, including Tamil Nadu, have expressed concerns that they could lose representation because their population growth has been slower than that of northern states.

The latest dispute centred on Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's remarks at the Southern Zonal Council meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday. According to the DMK, the chief minister omitted the term "freeze" while referring to the total number of Lok Sabha seats at 543.

Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said the TVK government had passed a resolution in the assembly to freeze the number of Lok Sabha seats at 543. But, he alleged, the chief minister did not use the word "freeze" at the council meeting, suggesting that the TVK-led government had diluted Tamil Nadu's demand.

Defending the government, TVK MLA CTR Nirmal Kumar said the agenda of the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting was designed to address broader issues concerning all southern states.

Minister Adhav Arjuna, intervening in the debate, asserted that the government's position remained unchanged. "Our government has no change in stand with regard to delimitation," he said.

The exchange intensified as both sides accused each other of compromising Tamil Nadu's interests. Udhayanidhi reiterated that the DMK remained committed to a total freeze on the redrawing of constituencies or, at the very least, ensuring that Tamil Nadu's current 7.18% representation in the Lok Sabha was not reduced. Tamil Nadu currently has 39 Lok Sabha seats.

Arjuna, however, hit back, alleging that the DMK had shifted its position in the past. "If they ask only for fair delimitation, it would be a betrayal to Tamil Nadu," he said, claiming that the DMK had previously not insisted on the 543-seat cap.

He also challenged the DMK's Lok Sabha MPs not to walk out if the BJP-led central government introduces the Delimitation Bill in Parliament. "When the Bill comes up in Parliament, the DMK should not stage a walkout... All 39 MPs of the DMK should stay inside the House and register their opposition. If you boycott, that too will turn out to be favourable for the ruling party," he added.

However, Arjuna acknowledged the DMK's role in ensuring that the Delimitation Bill did not become law, which prompted AIADMK leader and former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to seek clarification.

"We have not forgotten that the DMK stood firm for state rights. We accept that the Delimitation Bill did not become law because the DMK opposed it. Just as we united for states' rights in the past, let us unite now as well," Arjuna said.

Palaniswami then asked: "Delimitation is a law. Does TVK need its number of constituencies to be increased or decreased? Clarify that."

Arjuna responded: "After the census, Vajpayee brought a special law to freeze the LS numbers. To bring that again, let your MPs, including yours, raise their voice; that is our request."

The issue is likely to remain contentious as the census and delimitation process move closer, with southern parties demanding that their representation not be reduced.