Political parties demand transparency and seat freeze in delimitation process

The DMK-led Joint Action Committee (JAC) convened its first meeting in Chennai to discuss the Union government's proposed delimitation exercise.

Expressing concerns over lack of transparency and inadequate consultation, the committee adopted a unanimous 7-point resolution calling for an inclusive and fair approach to the process.

The JAC emphasised that all state governments, political parties, and relevant stakeholders must be actively involved in shaping any delimitation efforts to uphold democratic principles.

Key Resolutions Passed by JAC

1. Ensuring Transparency in Delimitation - Any changes to parliamentary constituencies should be conducted in an open and transparent manner, allowing state governments, political parties, and stakeholders to engage in discussions and provide input.

2. Extending the Freeze on Parliamentary Seats - Given that the 42nd, 84th, and 87th Constitutional Amendments aimed to protect states that effectively implemented population control measures, the current freeze on Lok Sabha seats based on the 1971 Census should be extended for another 25 years.

3. No Penalty for Population Control Success - States that have successfully managed population growth should not be penalised with reduced representation in Parliament. The Union Government must amend the Constitution to ensure fairness in seat allocation.

4. Core Committee to Lead Parliamentary Strategy - A Core Committee of MPs from participating states will coordinate parliamentary efforts to oppose any unfair delimitation measures that contradict these principles.

5. Joint Representation to the Prime Minister - The Core Committee of MPs will submit a formal joint representation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the ongoing Parliament session to present their concerns.

6. State Assemblies to Pass Resolutions - Political parties present at the meeting will work towards passing resolutions in their respective Legislative Assemblies, urging the Union Government to consider their stance.

7. Public Awareness Campaign - The JAC will launch a coordinated awareness campaign to educate citizens about the history and implications of past delimitation exercises, mobilizing public opinion on the issue.

The Chennai meeting was attended by several key political leaders, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin (Meeting Convenor), Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Odisha Congress President Bhakta Charan Das, and BJD Leader Sanjay Kumar Das Burma.

Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik participated virtually, while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chose to skip the meeting altogether.

Following discussions, Chief Minister MK Stalin announced that the next JAC meeting will be held in Hyderabad.