Tamil Nadu: DMK Questions Vijay's Delimitation Stand, TVK Defends Govt Position

The Tamil Nadu Assembly witnessed a sharp face-off on Friday, August 21, as the DMK and the ruling TVK clashed over the state's position on the proposed delimitation exercise.

Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin accused Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay of diluting Tamil Nadu's demand by omitting the word 'freeze' during the Southern Zonal Council meeting, NDTV reported.

Stalin said the TVK government had passed a resolution in the Assembly seeking a freeze on the total number of Lok Sabha seats at 543, but alleged that Vijay had not used the term 'freeze' at the council meeting.

Minister Adhav Arjuna defended the government's position, saying there had been no change in its stand on delimitation.

Debate Intensifies

The exchange intensified as the two sides accused each other of compromising Tamil Nadu's interests. Stalin reiterated that the DMK remained committed to a complete freeze on the redrawing of constituencies. At the very least, he said, Tamil Nadu's existing 7.18 per cent share of parliamentary representation must not be reduced.

Arjuna hit back, alleging that the DMK had changed its position in the past and had earlier failed to insist on retaining the 543-seat cap. "If they ask only for fair delimitation, it would be a betrayal to Tamil Nadu," Arjuna said. "No delimitation is our stand. We are opposing the 50% increase in all states too. We want the existing 7.18% share of Tamil Nadu in Parliamentary seats to be maintained."

AIADMK chief Edappadi Palaniswami also demanded that Tamil Nadu retain its 7.18% share of parliamentary seats after the delimitation exercise.

BJP MLA Bhola Rajan, however, took a different view, saying delimitation would be beneficial for Tamil Nadu and predicting that the state's share could rise from the existing 7.18%.

Vijay Warns Centre

The Assembly clash came a day after Vijay urged the Union government to provide a clear assurance that no state would lose its share of parliamentary representation because of the proposed Delimitation Bill, 2026.

Addressing the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council on Thursday, August 20, Vijay said southern states were concerned that population-based delimitation could reduce their collective representation in Parliament.

"As the freeze on the allocation of Lok Sabha seats based on the 1971 Census approaches its end and the Delimitation Bill, 2026, is considered, there is a genuine and shared concern across the Southern States that delimitation based predominantly on populations may diminish our collective voice in Parliament," Vijay said.

He argued that southern states should not be penalised for successfully stabilising their populations.

Vijay urged the Centre to provide a legislative assurance that no state would suffer a reduction in its percentage of parliamentary representation because of its success in population stabilisation.

He said such a move would uphold the principles of equity, preserve the federal balance envisaged by the Constitution and strengthen the confidence of states in democratic institutions.