Chennai: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) convened a high-profile meeting on Saturday, March 22, to address concerns regarding the upcoming delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies. Held in Chennai, the meeting saw participation from key political leaders across states, marking a significant moment in the debate over representation in Parliament.
Among those in attendance were Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. Representatives from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) also joined the discussion, highlighting the widespread concern over the issue.
The primary focus of the meeting was the impact of the delimitation exercise, which is expected to be based on the 2011 Census. Many leaders fear that this could lead to reduced parliamentary representation for states that have successfully implemented population control measures, particularly in South and East India.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader M K Stalin emphasized that the meeting was a step towards safeguarding the federal structure and ensuring fair representation. He stressed that states with effective population policies should not be penalized through diminished parliamentary seats.
The meeting also aimed to strategize legal and political responses to the proposed changes. One key proposal discussed was continuing the current 1971 Census-based delimitation framework until 2056, ensuring a balanced approach that does not disadvantage any region.
This initiative has gained traction among various regional parties and leaders who argue that the new delimitation plan could disrupt the principles of federalism. The outcomes of this meeting are expected to shape the national conversation on electoral representation and influence future political decisions on the matter.
