Delimitation Row: Tamil Nadu CM Stalin chairs All-Party meeting

CM Stalin opposes delimitation based on population, fearing Tamil Nadu could lose parliamentary seats in all-party meeting.

In an all-party meeting to discuss the issue of delimitation, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has suggested a Joint Action Committee of MPs and party representatives from southern States to collectively oppose the proposed move to redraw the parliamentary constituencies based on population.

The meeting chaired by Mr. Stalin is underway in Chennai. Principal opposition party AIADMK, the Congress and Left parties, actor-politician Vijay’s TVK among others who are attending the meeting besides the DMK.

The Tamil Nadu BJP has skipped the meeting with the state president Annamalai dubbing it as “funniest“ and  adding that the fear of delimitation being disadvantageous to southern states is “imaginary“. Tamil nationalist Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) and former union minister GK Vasan’s Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) are also not attending the meeting.

Also Read | BJP will participate in all-party meet only if T.N. CM reveals who gave details on delimitation, says Annamalai

Mr. Stalin, during the meeting, noted that population-based delimitation will reduce the seats of Tamil Nadu in Lok Sabha and said that the members ‘staunchly’ oppose the delimitation.

The meeting is held to discuss the issues surrounding delimitation, it has been decided to invite 40 registered political parties in the State for an all-party meeting.

Earlier, the Chief Minister wrote a letter to various political parties, urging them to voice their Opposition to the delimitation exercise. In the letter, Mr. Stalin said, “We have been taking several measures to uphold the rights of Tamil Nadu and protect the interests of the Tamil people. However, we are in a situation where we must constantly fight to secure our financial and administrative rights.”