Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin voiced concerns over the potential reduction of the state’s parliamentary representation during the upcoming delimitation of constituencies scheduled for 2026. Speaking at an all-party meeting convened to address the issue, Stalin highlighted the risk of Tamil Nadu losing a significant number of Lok Sabha seats due to the Union Government’s population-based approach to delimitation. The meeting saw the absence of the Tamil Nadu BJP.
Stalin emphasized the threat posed by the delimitation process, noting that the southern states, particularly Tamil Nadu, are at risk. “The sword of Delimitation is hanging over our heads,” he said, pointing out that the state’s successful population control efforts, through family planning and women’s empowerment, could result in a loss of parliamentary seats. He warned that if the current allocation of 543 seats is maintained, Tamil Nadu could lose as many as 8 seats, reducing its representation from 39 to just 32 MPs.
The Chief Minister proposed an alternative scenario in which the total number of parliamentary constituencies is increased to 848. In this case, Tamil Nadu would gain 22 more constituencies. However, if delimitation is based purely on population, the state could gain only 10 additional seats, leading to an overall reduction of 12 seats.
Stalin urged for a fair approach in the delimitation process, expressing concerns that more populous states would secure additional seats at the expense of southern states like Tamil Nadu.
DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai echoed Stalin’s concerns, accusing the BJP government of having a “devious intent” and warning that states that have followed population control measures would be unfairly disadvantaged. He criticized the BJP’s credibility and emphasized that all chief ministers, except for Chandrababu Naidu, supported Stalin’s stance on the matter.
Meanwhile, Actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam also expressed disapproval of the population-based delimitation, fearing it would diminish the representation of southern states. The party urged that immediate issues like inflation and unemployment be prioritized and called for clearer assurances from the Union Government regarding the forthcoming restructuring of constituencies.