Delimitation: JAC Tells Centre to Extend Freeze by 25 More Years

To submit a joint representation to PM during ongoing Parliamentary session

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CHENNAI: The DMK-led Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting on Saturday demanded that the Centre should give an extension on the freeze on Parliamentary constituencies, based on the 1971 Census, by another 25 years.

Putting up a show of unity, the Opposition leaders from six states met here for the first meeting of JAC on "Fair Delimitation" which was hosted by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief M K Stalin. They sounded a note of warning that the proposed reallocation of parliamentary seats on the basis of population could "disempower" southern and other "progressive" states.

The JAC asserted that the proposed delimitation exercise based on population would not be "fair" to southern states. The meeting decided to submit a joint representation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the ongoing Parliamentary session.

A political consensus also emerged to fight against "population" as the yardstick to determine delimitation. Politically, the meeting, which was attended by three chief ministers, a deputy CM and leaders of 14 parties including the BRS, BJD and SAD from six states in a show of solidarity on the issue, was a shot in the arm for Stalin and his party DMK, ahead of the Assembly election in Tamil Nadu next year.

"The upcoming or future population-based delimitation of constituencies based on the next census will greatly affect a few states. We should all be absolutely sure that delimitation based on the current population cannot be accepted," Stalin asserted.

He also said a legal option could be explored and favoured setting up an expert panel to draw up the political and legal action plan.

Addressing the meeting, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed the proposed delimitation as a 'sword of Damocles' hanging over the states, especially in southern India, which implemented programs to control the population.