CHENNAI: In a bid to rally support of all Tamil Nadu political parties, chief minister M K Stalin announced on Tuesday a meeting of registered parties on March 5 to discuss the Union govt’s proposed delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies in 2026, arguing it would “throttle the voice of Tamil Nadu”, a state that succeeded in population control measures. He said Tamil Nadu might lose eight Lok Sabha seats if the delimitation process was solely population-based.
Emerging from a cabinet meeting at the state secretariat, the CM launched one more battle against the Centre, this one against delimitation, saying TN has been forced into “yet another struggle” to secure its rights. “Delimitation is a sword dangling over southern states. Tamil Nadu, which is the leading state in all development indicators, will be severely affected. There is a danger of reduction of existing 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state,” Stalin said. State govt will formally invite all 40 political parties registered with the Election Commission of India to the all-party meeting.
Stalin later said on X that a democratic process should not penalise states that 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 Union govt proposed to undertake a delimitation exercise based on population figures in 2026. The decline in population would lead to reduced Lok Sabha representation for the state, while states with larger populations would get more representation.
Stalin stressed the importance of the issue beyond just the number of Lok Sabha members, emphasising its connection to states’ rights. He called for a united front from all political parties to address this concern, urging their participation in the upcoming meeting. It was not just on the Union govt’s trilingual policy, but more parliamentary representation could help the state address issues like NEET and funding from the Centre, Stalin said.
When questioned about the Centre’s response to TN’s concerns on various issues, the CM said, “There is no reply. They are just silent.” On a query whether the Union govt’s actions were instigating a language war, Stalin responded, “Certainly.” He said the DMK govt was ready to engage in such a war.
In a post on X, BJP state president K Annamalai said Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself clearly stated that delimitation would be favourable to all, including southern states, as and when it happens. “Imaginary fears & stupid arguments have, of late, become TN CM’s arsenal,” he said.