New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah made it clear that Tamil Nadu would not lose a single parliamentary seat following delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies.
Amit Shah was responding to Stalin’s claim that the state would lose eight Lok Sabha seats when delimitation is implemented on the basis of population census.
‘Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear in the Lok Sabha that even after delimitation, the seats of none of the states of the south will be decreased,’ Shah was quoted as saying.
The delimitation exercise will see next year redrawing of constituencies based on population, probably altering the proportion of seats in the southern state.
The issue is now a bone of contention between the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu and the Modi administration.
Describing the issue a ‘sword hanging over southern states’, Stalin announced an all-party meeting on March 5 to discuss delimitation.
Warning that Tamil Nadu is at a crossroads, he claimed that the process would weaken the state’s representation in Parliament.
‘Our representation in Parliament will be reduced...Tamil Nadu's voice is being stifled. This is a matter of Tamil Nadu's rights. All political parties should speak across party lines,’ Stalin was quoted as saying.
He reportedly invited 40 political parties registered with the Election Commission to the meeting, which will also discuss concerns over the three-language formula and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).
‘As the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, I bring to everyone's attention that the Lok Sabha delimitation exercise based on the 2026 Census is extremely dangerous. Southern states like Tamil Nadu have done a great job in controlling population growth. But if that is the reason why our strength in Parliament will decrease, if it can suppress our voice, how can it be justified?’ Stalin wrote on X.
BJP Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai accused Stalin of ‘fear-mongering’, alongside spreading ‘imaginary fears and stupid arguments’.
Backing Stalin, former Telangana minister KT Rama Rao said southern states should not be punished for successfully implementing family planning.
‘I totally agree with Thiru Stalin and strongly support him on this. You cannot penalise the southern states for religiously implementing family planning when the nation needs it the most,’ he reportedly stated.