CHENNAI: The Joint Action Committee for Fair Delimitation, comprising chief ministers and heads of political parties from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha and Punjab, on Saturday passed a resolution calling for a 25-year extension of the freeze on Lok Sabha constituencies based on the 1971 population census.
The JAC, initiated by Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, decided to present a joint representation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by a core committee of MPs during the current session of Parliament.
The CMs, party chiefs and politicians rallied behind Stalin in Chennai to challenge the Union govt’s delimitation plan, expressing concerns about transparency and states being penalised for successfully implementing population control measures.
“Given the fact that legislative intent behind the 42nd, 84th, and 87th Constitution amendments was to protect/incentivise states which implemented population control measures effectively, and the goal of national population stabilisation has not yet been achieved, the freeze on parliamentary constituencies based on the 1971 population census should be extended by another 25 years,” the JAC resolution said.
The committee, initiated by Stalin, is scheduled to hold its second meeting in Hyderabad.
The JAC wants the Union govt to enact Constitution amendments to stop penalising states that implemented population control programmes. A core committee of MPs will coordinate parliamentary strategies to counter the delimitation exercise. Participating political parties will initiate efforts to bring about legislative assembly resolutions in their respective states and inform the Union govt.
The JAC will launch a public awareness campaign about the history and implications of delimitation.
In his opening remarks, Stalin accused BJP of undermining states’ rights and harbouring ulterior motives with the delimitation plan. “No state should allow this. Realising this threat, Tamil Nadu is working with unprecedented unity,” he said, setting the tone for the meeting.
Stalin criticised Union home minister Amit Shah’s recent explanation on delimitation as “unclear and confusing.” He pointed to a reported statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting a potential decrease in the number of constituencies in the southern states.
Later, Stalin posted on X that the historic meeting in Chennai of CMs, deputy CMs, politicians and heads of various parties across India was an unprecedented show of unity. “This formidable gathering reflects our collective resolve to uphold India’s federalism in its true spirit and stand united for fair delimitation,” he posted, emphasising that the movement was not against delimitation but for a fair and just process.
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the Union govt’s approach as violating federal principles and unfairly targeting certain states. He argued that states successfully implementing national policies should be rewarded, not penalised.” He described the proposed delimitation as “Damocles’ sword” hanging over states.
Accusing BJP of imposing a “demographic penalty” on the southern states, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy advocated for states being recognised for their contributions to nation-building for the last five decades. Reddy indicated that a resolution would be passed against delimitation in the Telangana legislature. He expressed concern that reducing the southern states’ share of Lok Sabha constituencies would turn them into “a passive audience in the political theatre of India”.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann discussed the potential impact on Punjab’s representation. “If they (BJP) want to retain 2.4% seats for Punjab, they have to give 21 seats, but because they are not winning in Punjab anymore, they will not increase the seats. They will increase the seats in the Hindi belt because they are winning there,” he said.
Describing the proposed delimitation as a “political assault” on the South, Karnataka deputy CM D K Shivakumar expressed opposition to any reduction in the state’s representation in the Lok Sabha, especially when the state was making a significant contribution of 8.4% to the nation’s GDP. “We will fight in the courts, in Parliament, and on the streets to protect our rights,” Shivakumar said.
TRS party working president K T Rama Rao demanded to know why southern states, contributing 36% to GDP, weren’t given proportional representation in Parliament. He argued that empowering these states would strengthen the nation. “If India has to become a superpower by 2047, we must empower those driving the growth, not silence them,” he said.
Odisha former CM Naveen Patnaik, participating online, argued against disincentivising states that successfully reduced population growth. Tamil Nadu deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin contended that the proposed exercise would disproportionately benefit states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. Talking to reporters later, DMK MP Kanimozhi confirmed that Trinamool Congress was unable to attend the meeting but added that YSR Congress toed the line of DMK’s stance on delimitation.
