"Constituency delimitation, a sword hanging over South India's head": MK Stalin

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], February 26 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin convened a cabinet meeting at the secretariat on Tuesday and announced the decision to hold an all-party meeting on March 5 to discuss the issue of constituency delimitation. He highlighted the state could lose eight MPs in the process.
Stalin confirmed that invitations for the all-party meeting would be sent to the 40 political parties registered with the Election Commission of India (ECI) in Tamil Nadu.
He asserted that Tamil Nadu, currently having 39 MPs, would be adversely affected by the constituency realignment, which would likely reduce the state's representation. Stalin expressed that the state was now compelled to stage protests to protect its rights.
"Tamil Nadu has been pushed to the situation to hold protests to get its rights, which calls for an all-party meeting to discuss constituency delimitation. So, on March 5, 40 Parties registered with the Election Commission would be invited. Today, we will send them an invitation. Delimitation is like a knife hanging on South India's head since Tamil Nadu, the top state on all growth index, would get affected badly. Tamil Nadu has 39 MPs. A dangerous situation has arisen to reduce the number of MPs (from the state)," Stalin said while addressing the media.
Suggesting that Tamil Nadu's efforts to control the population have succeeded, Stalin said that if the constituency delimitation is implemented on such a basis, the number of MPs from the state would be reduced to 31.
"Union Government in 2026 to delimitate parliament constituencies. Generally, these are being done based on population level. India's big target was to control the population. On that target, Tamil Nadu has achieved huge success. Everyone knows that. In many years, we have achieved that with the help of family planning and women empowerment. The situation has arisen where Parliament seats would be decreased if the population is less. If this happens, Tamil Nadu will lose 8 MPs, and Tamil Nadu won't have 39, only 31. Our representation will become less. States with high populations will get high representation. Tamil Nadu voices are being crushed," Stalin added.
The Chief Minister urged that all parties, irrespective of political differences, should unite against the delimitation proposal.
Responding to whether the National Education Policy (NEP) would be part of the discussion at the all-party meeting, CM said, "Only if we have MPs can we achieve a solution to NEET, NEP, and funds (allocation) to the state. Therefore, this is the most important issue and priority".
He also said, "Yes. It is definitely pushing. We are also ready for that". (ANI)