Delimitation Resolution
Joint action committee's delimitation resolution calls for transparency
This story was originally published at 17:28 IST on 22 March 2025
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NEW DELHI – A meeting of several chief ministers and parties of Opposition-ruled states on Saturday, called by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, led to the formation of a joint action committee on the issue of delimitation, which adopted a resolution calling for the exercise to be transparent. The committee saw representation from the ruling parties of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Punjab, as well as lawmakers from other states.
"Based on the various points and scenarios put forth by representatives during the discussion, the JAC (joint action committee) unanimously resolved that any delimitation exercise carried out by the Union government to improve the content or character of our democracy should be carried out transparently enabling political parties of all states, state governments and other stakeholders to deliberate, discuss and contribute," DMK Member of Parliament K. Kanimozhi said.
The delimitation exercise scheduled for 2026 has become a contentious issue, particularly among southern states, due to concerns it will reduce their representation in Parliament in favour of northern states with higher population growth. Stalin has called the process of delimitation and increasing parliamentary constituencies unfair for states that have maintained their population. The DMK on Friday protested against the lack of discussion on the delimitation exercise in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, leading to an early adjournment.
The Tamil Nadu chief minister reiterated his call for "fair delimitation" at the meeting on Saturday, according to media reports. The committee's resolution said the freeze on parliamentary constituencies based on the 1971 census population should be extended by another 25 years, Kanimozhi said.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said at the meeting that the delimitation exercise was like a sword hanging over the heads of southern states. He said the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre was going through the process without any consultation, seeking to serve narrow political interests rather than any Constitutional principle.
At the meeting, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the Centre's plan was to reduce parliamentary representation of Opposition parties by favouring states with higher population growth rates that were strongholds for the BJP. In comments to media after the meeting, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asked why southern states should be punished for managing their population. He also raised concerns of reduction in Punjab's representation to 2.11% in the Lok Sabha from the current 2.39%, under the currently discussed delimitation exercise.
"We have a big challenge facing the country, the BJP is implementing a policy of demographic penalty," Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said, highlighting his state's developmental milestones and contributions in taxes. "We are one country and we respect it, but we cannot accept this proposed delimitation because it will politically limit us. It will punish us for being performing states. We have to stop BJP from implementing any unfair delimitation."
Bharat Rashtra Samithi Working President and Telangana MLA K.T. Rama Rao batted for an increase in legislative assembly seats instead of just seats in the Parliament, for better representation and to address administrative and population issue. "If you are determined to increase the number of MP seats, either take the national average growth rate or maintain the same proportion for every state... Why should population alone be the criterion for delimitation?" he said while addressing the media after the meeting.
At the meeting, Stalin said the next meeting of the joint action committee would be held in Hyderabad. End
Reported by Aaryan Khanna
Edited by Avishek Dutta
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