CM Vijay calls all-party MPs' meet over delimitation, DMK sets conditions to attend

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has convened a meeting of all Members of Parliament from the state on Saturday, August 8, to discuss the Union government's proposed Delimitation Bill and its implications for Tamil Nadu. The meeting comes amid reports that the DMK is considering supporting the legislation if the Union government agrees to address its concerns over the state's representation in Parliament. The principal opposition party in the state, the DMK, has however responded that they would attend the meeting on delimitation only if the TN CM first convenes a meeting on Cauvery river sharing and the Mekedatu project. According to an official statement issued by the Tamil Nadu government, all Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs from the state have been invited to attend the consultative meeting, which will be held at Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai at 3 pm. Invitations are being sent through Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi.The state government said the consultation is intended to gather the views of MPs and evolve a common understanding on the issue before any further developments in Parliament.Chief Minister Vijay has opposed the proposed delimitation exercise, arguing that it would adversely affect Tamil Nadu's interests. He will seek the views of MPs from the DMK, Congress, CPI(M), CPI, VCK and MDMK during the meeting.The DMK in a statement said, “At a time when the agenda for the ongoing Parliament session does not even mention the introduction of a Delimitation Bill, no political party has the authority to advise the DMK on how it should respond to such legislation. The entire country knows that it was the DMK, under the leadership of MK Stalin, that first highlighted the dangers of an unfair delimitation exercise, built a strong opposition to it, and united voices against it.Therefore, based on this consistent stand, the DMK has no hesitation in participating in the meeting of Members of Parliament convened by the present government on August 8 and presenting its views.”.It has subsequently spelt out a condition, “However, before that, the Tamil Nadu government must convene an all-party meeting to discuss the Karnataka government’s efforts to construct the Mekedatu dam and to demonstrate the unity of Tamil Nadu’s political parties on the Cauvery issue. The DMK places this as a condition before the state government.”While the DMK had earlier demanded a 25-year freeze on the number of Lok Sabha seats in 2025, it is now reportedly considering backing the Bill if the Union government ensures that Tamil Nadu's existing 7.28% share of parliamentary representation is not altered. According to reports, the party wants a uniform increase in Lok Sabha seats across all states so that the present balance of representation is maintained.The issue has also gained political significance after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi cautioned the DMK against supporting the legislation. Addressing the party earlier this week, Rahul said that anyone backing the Delimitation Bill would be "betraying the future of Tamil Nadu" and allowing the BJP to undermine the interests of the state's people.The proposed delimitation exercise has generated concern in Tamil Nadu over the possibility that states which have successfully implemented population control measures could lose their proportionate share of seats in Parliament if future seat allocation is based primarily on population figures.