Tamil Nadu CM Vijay’s take on delimitation triggers political row

Tamil Nadu CM Vijay's take on delimitation triggers political row Opposition parties were quick to point out that the Chief Minister's address was at variance with the resolution adopted by the Assembly.

Key points

• Joseph Vijay at the 31st Southern Zonal Council Session at Mamallapuram Photo Credit: X/@CMOTamilnadu.
• Joseph Vijay's take on delimitation at the 31st Southern Zonal Council session at Mamallapuram triggered a row on Thursday.
• DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran wondered whether the Chief Minister had switched over to the BJP alliance, or had developed cold feet after seeing the Union Home Minister.
• It had called on a "freeze" on the number of Lok Sabha seats at 543.
• After the confusion and social media backlash, Tamil Nadu Law Minister C.T.R.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at the 31st Southern Zonal Council Session at Mamallapuram Photo Credit: X/@CMOTamilnadu.

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's take on delimitation at the 31st Southern Zonal Council session at Mamallapuram triggered a row on Thursday. The Chief Minister, in his address, pressed the Union administration to provide a clear legislative assurance that "no State would suffer a reduction in its percentage of representation in Parliament" on account of its success in population stabilisation.

At the session presided over by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he stated such an approach would uphold the principles of equity, preserve the federal balance envisioned by the Constitution, and reinforce the confidence of all States in democratic institutions.

Nevertheless, some of the Opposition parties were quick to point out that the Chief Minister's address was at variance with the resolution adopted by the Tamil Nadu Assembly on August 12. It had called on a "freeze" on the number of Lok Sabha seats at 543.

[The Assembly had additionally resolved that the existing number of seats in the House of Residents (Lok Sabha) allocated to the States be created permanent at the current level, that is proportional distribution among the States.].

Meanwhile, the DMK, the main Opposition party, pressed Mr. Vijay to explain why he had taken a "U-turn" on delimitation after adopting a resolution in the Assembly urging the Union administration to freeze the number of Lok Sabha seats at 543.

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran wondered whether the Chief Minister had switched over to the BJP alliance, or had developed cold feet after seeing the Union Home Minister. "As far as the DMK and its leader M.K. Stalin are concerned, we are consistent in our stand that Tamil Nadu should not suffer in the delimitation exercise. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi described those who backing the delimitation process as 'Ettappans' (betrayers). Is Chief Minister Vijay an Ettappan, " he asked at a press conference in Chennai.

AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran additionally questioned Mr. Vijay on his stance on delimitation. Questions were additionally raised on social media on whether the TVK had gone from 'No delimitation' to 'Fair delimitation' in a week's time.

After the confusion and social media backlash, Tamil Nadu Law Minister C.T.R. Nirmalkumar remarked there was no change in the Tamil Nadu government's stand on delimitation. "Freeze 543 & 39 for TN, " he remarked in a post on X.

In short, tamil Nadu CM Vijay's take on delimitation triggers political row is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.