CHENNAI: An all-party meeting led by Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday opposing population-based delimitation as a “grave threat” to India’s federal structure and urged PM Narendra Modi to assure in Parliament that the 1971 census-based Lok Sabha seat allocation would be extended for another 30 years beyond 2026.
The meeting, held at the state secretariat, saw participation from representatives of 59 EC-registered parties, with the exception of six parties, including BJP, NTK, and TMC, which boycotted discussions.
The 84th Amendment had frozen existing LS seats until 2026. With the deadline fast approaching, concerns have grown that population-based delimitation could disproportionately impact Tamil Nadu and other southern states.
“Tamil Nadu is not against delimitation, but delimitation shouldn’t penalise states for successful implementation of the socio-economic welfare programmes over the past five decades,” the resolution states. The meeting resolved to form a joint action committee to take up the issue.
“If the current 543 LS seats remain, Tamil Nadu could lose eight seats, reducing our representation from 39 to 31. If Lok Sabha expands to 848 seats, we might gain 22 seats, but if population is the sole criterion, we will only gain 10 – meaning a loss of 12 seats,” Stalin said.
The DMK-led Tamil Nadu govt had passed a resolution against delimitation in February last and AIADMK, PMK, and several others backed its stand.