Tamil Nadu Parties Unite Against 2026 Delimitation, Call It a Threat to Federalism
Chennai, 5th March 2025: An all-party meeting convened by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has “unanimously opposed” the proposed parliamentary constituency delimitation process set for 2026.
A resolution adopted at the meeting in Chennai on Wednesday stated that delimitation would “weaken” Tamil Nadu and pose a “threat to India’s federal structure.”
The meeting was attended by parties including the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam, and the Communist parties. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party, Naam Tamilar Katchi, and Tamil Maanila Congress chose to boycott the discussion.
According to the resolution, which was passed during the meeting held from 10 am to noon, delimitation based “solely” on population figures from the forthcoming census would “undermine the political representation rights of Tamil Nadu and other South Indian states.”
The resolution emphasized, “It is entirely unfair to reduce the parliamentary representation of Tamil Nadu and other South Indian states merely because they have effectively implemented population control policies in the national interest.”
The meeting also resolved that the existing freeze on delimitation, based on the 1971 population census and set to expire in 2026, should be extended indefinitely. In a separate address, Stalin asserted that the “status quo should be maintained for at least the next three decades.”
Additionally, the meeting decided to establish a Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising various Tamil Nadu political parties. The JAC will reach out to political parties in other South Indian states to unify efforts against the proposed delimitation, as per the resolution.
Stalin urged southern states to “stand together in opposition” to population-based delimitation, highlighting that despite Tamil Nadu having 39 MPs in Parliament, its concerns are not being acknowledged by the Centre.
“A delimitation exercise will only worsen the situation,” he said, reiterating that Tamil Nadu’s parliamentary representation would shrink from 39 seats to 31 if population-based delimitation is implemented. He also assured that his government would take “all necessary steps to prevent delimitation,” which he described as a “serious threat” to the state. Stalin framed the opposition to delimitation as a fight for Tamil Nadu’s rights.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai dismissed the meeting as “laughable,” stating, “The fear of delimitation negatively impacting the southern states is purely imaginary.”
