TNCC chief: Congress, INDIA bloc will keep opposing Delimitation Bill

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president Manickam Tagore on Sunday said the Congress and its INDIA bloc allies would continue to oppose the Delimitation Bill, alleging that the BJP was desperate to bypass growing public anger and would attempt to pass it in Parliament.

Speaking at a press conference in Chennai, Mr. Tagore said the people of Tamil Nadu would remember who burnt copies of the earlier version of the Bill. Though he did not name the DMK, his remarks were widely seen as a reference to the party, which had staged protests against the Bill in its previous form. He expressed hope that there would be no change in that stand.

“Who spoke against delimitation? Who supported it? BJP, PMK, and AIADMK. We need to see who joins them. Delimitation is against Tamil Nadu. The ones who are keeping quiet should answer,” he said.

The Delimitation Bill seeks to redraw the boundaries of Lok Sabha and state Assembly constituencies on the basis of population. Southern states, including Tamil Nadu, have argued that such a move would reduce their representation in Parliament, as their population growth has been comparatively lower. The INDIA bloc has consistently opposed the Bill, while the BJP and its allies have supported it.

Asked about Electricity Minister Nirmal Kumar’s recent comment that Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, a Congress leader, would reflect the views of the DMK, Mr. Tagore said: “Shivakumar would represent the interests of Karnataka. I speak for the interests of Tamil Nadu. We are not speaking in one voice. The Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution unanimously on Mekedatu, but now there is disagreement. Nothing else is important except internal politics.”

His remarks underline the delicate balancing act within the opposition alliance, where leaders from different states have divergent positions on matters such as the Cauvery water dispute. The Mekedatu project proposed by Karnataka has been a long-standing irritant in relations between the two states, with Tamil Nadu opposing it on the ground that it would affect its drinking water and irrigation needs.

Mr. Tagore also rejected criticism that his party’s leader Rahul Gandhi had “betrayed” Tamil Nadu by not speaking about the Cauvery issue. He contended that politics over the issue should be avoided. “Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are not India and Pakistan. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s intention to speak to the Karnataka Chief Minister is a good initiative,” he added.

The comments come at a time when the newly appointed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has indicated a willingness to engage with Karnataka on the Cauvery issue. Mr. Tagore’s endorsement of such dialogue suggests a possible opening for talks between the two states, even as political parties continue to take rigid positions.

The press conference highlighted the complexities of federal politics in India, where regional parties and national parties often have to balance state interests with alliance cohesion. Mr. Tagore’s assertion that each leader would represent their own state’s interests reflects the reality of coalition politics, where consensus is not always easy.

On the Delimitation Bill, the Congress and its allies have vowed to resist it through parliamentary and extra-parliamentary means. The previous attempt to introduce the Bill was stalled, but the BJP, which has a majority in the Lok Sabha, may push for it again. Opposition parties argue that a fresh delimitation based on the 2011 census would favour the more populous northern states at the expense of the south.

Mr. Tagore’s statement is part of a broader campaign by the INDIA bloc to mobilise public opinion against the Bill. Whether the government will bring it up in the next session remains to be seen, but the opposition’s determination to block it is clear.

So far, there has been no official response from the DMK or the BJP to Mr. Tagore’s remarks. Political observers note that the DMK and the Congress are partners in the INDIA bloc, and any divergence on key issues could test their alliance ahead of the next election cycle.