Chennai , 12 August (H.S.):

The DMK on Wednesday extended its support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government’s resolution on delimitation, with Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin asserting that Tamil Nadu’s representation in Parliament must not be reduced under any future redrawing of constituencies.

Speaking in the Assembly during the debate on the resolution moved by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, Udhayanidhi said the DMK had consistently opposed any delimitation exercise that could adversely affect Tamil Nadu.

He said former Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin had been among the first political leaders to raise concerns nationally over the consequences of conducting delimitation on the basis of population.

Recalling measures taken by the previous DMK government, Udhayanidhi said the Assembly had adopted a resolution on the issue in February 2024. An all-party meeting was subsequently held on March 5 to build political consensus, with representatives of several parties, including the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, participating.

Stalin had also written to Chief Ministers of seven states and leaders of major political parties highlighting the possible impact of delimitation. A Joint Action Committee meeting involving leaders from different states was later organised in Chennai.

Udhayanidhi said apprehensions persisted that the delimitation process could be revived using population figures from the 2027 Census, potentially altering the distribution of Lok Sabha constituencies.

He urged that the existing constitutional arrangement on delimitation be extended for another 25 years, arguing that states which successfully implemented population-control measures should not be penalised with reduced representation.

The DMK leader also reiterated the party’s support for 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State legislatures. He said that if the women’s quota was linked to delimitation, the exercise should be based on the 1971 population figures.

Concluding his address, Udhayanidhi said the DMK fully supported the Vijay government’s resolution to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s parliamentary representation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman