Tamil Nadu CM Vijay’s take on delimitation triggers political row

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s take on delimitation at the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting at Mamallapuram triggered a row on Thursday. The Chief Minister, in his address, urged the Union government to provide a clear legislative assurance that “no State would suffer a reduction in its percentage of representation in Parliament” on account of its success in population stabilisation.

At the meeting presided over by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he said such an approach would uphold the principles of equity, preserve the federal balance envisioned by the Constitution, and reinforce the confidence of all States in democratic institutions.

However, some of the Opposition parties were quick to point out that the Chief Minister’s address was at variance with the resolution adopted by the Tamil Nadu Assembly on August 12, which had called for a “freeze” on the number of Lok Sabha seats at 543.

[The Assembly had also resolved that the existing number of seats in the House of People (Lok Sabha) allocated to the States be made permanent at the current level, that is proportional distribution among the States.]

The DMK, the main Opposition party, urged Mr. Vijay to explain why he had taken a “U-turn” on delimitation after adopting a resolution in the Assembly urging the Union government to freeze the number of Lok Sabha seats at 543.

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran wondered whether the Chief Minister had switched over to the BJP alliance, or had developed cold feet after seeing the Union Home Minister. “As far as the DMK and its leader M.K. Stalin are concerned, we are consistent in our stand that Tamil Nadu should not suffer in the delimitation exercise. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi described those who support the delimitation process as ‘Ettappans’ (betrayers). Is Chief Minister Vijay an Ettappan,” he asked at a press conference in Chennai.

AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran also questioned Mr. Vijay on his stance on delimitation. Questions were also raised on social media on whether the TVK had gone from ‘No delimitation’ to ‘Fair delimitation’ in a week’s time.

After the confusion and social media backlash, Tamil Nadu Law Minister C.T.R. Nirmalkumar said there was no change in the Tamil Nadu government’s stand on delimitation. “Freeze 543 & 39 for TN,” he said in a post on X.