Bid to protect country: TN CM on delimitation meet

If Tamil Nadu and other states lose representation in Parliament due to the proposed delimitation, it will strike at the very foundation of federalism, erode democracy and lead to compromise of rights, chief minister MK Stalin said on Friday, on the eve of a meeting called by the DMK with leaders from seven states to oppose the impending exercise to redraw electoral constituencies based on population.

- Divya Chandrababu

CHENNAI:

Stalin had sent letters to the chief ministers of seven states — Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, West Bengal and Punjab — as well as to the leadership of all major parties representing these states in Parliament and invited them for the joint action committee meeting against the delimitation exercise, which the DMK chief claimed was a sword hanging over south India.

"This first round of discussions will be held in Chennai on March 22. Why are we organising this meeting now? If Tamil Nadu and other states we have reached out were to lose representation due to this delimitation, it will strike at the very foundation of federalism in India. It will erode the essence of democracy itself. Our voices in Parliament will be silenced. Our rights will be compromised," Stalin said in a nearly 3-minute video he shared on X.

Stating that a DMK delegation comprising a state minister and one MP personally met the leaders and explained his party's stand on delimitation, Stalin said he personally spoke to all seven CMs over the phone and some confirmed their participation, while others, due to prior commitments, will be sending their representatives.