Stalin opposes delimitation at all-party meeting: Which parties skipped, who attended?

The ruling DMK has been staunchly opposing the delimitation exercise

The BJP, Naam Tamilar Katchi and Tamil Maanila Congress on Wednesday skipped the all-party meeting called by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Lok Sabha seats delimitation.

Parties including the governing Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam and the Communist parties attended the meeting, according to Indian Express.

Stalin on Wednesday proposed a Joint Action Committee comprising MPs and party representatives from southern states.

Moving a resolution, Stalin said that in the event of an increase in the number of seats in Parliament, the 1971 Census should be the basis for it and appropriate Constitutional amendment should be done. Also, the 1971 Census should be the basis for delimitation of LS seats for 30 years from 2026 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should make an assurance in the Parliament, he asserted.

The JAC will  take forward such demands and create awareness among the people and meet unanimously opposed delimitation exercises based on population, which will be a "threat to federalism and the rights of southern states to political representation."

The CM said that the all-party meeting is for understanding that the state has been pushed to a corner on the issue of delimitation, thereby prompting it to take up a struggle movement to secure its rights. "The delimitation sword is hanging over the head of south India and Tamil Nadu will be severely affected," Stalin alleged.

Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai on Wednesday hit back at Chief Minister M K Stalin, dubbing him a "hypocrite" for attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Centre's fund allocation for Sanskrit-Hindi and Tamil and thereby alleging Hindi imposition.

In a social media post, Annamalai said: "Thiru @mkstalin, instead of listing what you have done to propagate our Tamil language beyond the confines of our State, knowing there aren't any, you've decided to move on to the next topic. It was not our claim; it is a reality, and the Sengol today also stands as a testament in the Parliament to our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl’s commitment to spreading the Tamil language and culture."

The ruling DMK has been staunchly opposing the delimitation exercise, with Stalin claiming it will lead to reduced LS seats in TN. He has wondered whether the state was being punished for effective implementation of population control measures over the years. The state has 39 Lok Sabha constituencies.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently  said the delimitation exercise will not affect southern states, including Tamil Nadu, and had accused Stalin of spreading a misinformation campaign on the matter.

Seeking to put to rest speculation on the subject, he had asserted no southern state would see a reduction in the Parliamentary representation when delimitation will be done on pro-rata basis. The DMK had questioned this assertion as well, asking the basis for pro rata--whether on population or the existing constituency of MP or MLAS.

CMs of two other southern states--Siddaramaiah and A Revanth Reddy of Congress-ruled Karnataka and Telangana, respectively, have also questioned Shah over his assertion on delimitation.