The AIADMK has decided not to participate in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay’s all-party meeting on delimitation scheduled for Saturday, dealing a setback to efforts to present a united political front against the Centre’s proposed constituency redrawing exercise.
The DMK has also decided to boycott the meeting, further exposing divisions among the state’s major political parties over the issue.
The meeting was convened by Chief Minister Vijay to bring together Members of Parliament from Tamil Nadu and discuss a common strategy against the Centre’s proposed delimitation exercise, which has emerged as a major political flashpoint in the state.
The latest development comes amid growing political debate over reports that the Centre is considering reintroducing the delimitation bill alongside the implementation of women’s reservation.
The proposed legislation seeks to redraw parliamentary constituencies based on the 2011 Census and increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from the current 543 seats to around 850.
WHY SOUTH INDIAN STATES OPPOSE DELIMITATION BILL?
Political parties across southern India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, have consistently opposed such an exercise if it is linked to population figures.
They argue that states which successfully implemented population control measures would be penalised with relatively fewer parliamentary seats, while northern states with higher population growth would gain a larger share of representation.
The issue had already triggered friction within the Opposition alliance after speculation that the DMK had softened its stand on the proposed legislation.
However, Tamil Nadu’s Leader of Opposition, Udhayanidhi Stalin recently clarified that the DMK had opposed delimitation “from the very beginning” and would continue to do so.
The Congress had also expressed concern over the reported shift, with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi taking a veiled swipe at supporters of the proposed legislation by referring to them as “21st-century Ettappans”—a term commonly used in Tamil Nadu to describe a traitor.
The proposed delimitation bill had earlier failed to secure passage after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill was defeated in Parliament in April.
‘DELIMITATION MIGHT REDUCE SOUTH INFLUENCE’
Opponents argue that delimitation based on the 2011 Census would disproportionately increase parliamentary representation for northern states while reducing the political influence of southern states, which have recorded lower population growth over the past decades.
They also contend that a reduced share of Lok Sabha seats could eventually weaken the South’s bargaining power in Parliament and affect issues such as tax devolution and allocation of central resources.
With both the AIADMK and the DMK staying away, Vijay’s meeting is set to proceed without the participation of two of Tamil Nadu’s largest political parties, underscoring the complex political equations surrounding the contentious delimitation debate.
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With inputs from Anagha
