Chennai: Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin has once again stepped into the national political arena by inviting leaders from over seven states for a meeting against delimitation in Chennai on March 22. Stalin had already reached out to chief ministers and political leaders across Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, and Punjab, emphasising the potential threat to southern States’ representation in the Lok Sabha. At a recent meeting, DMK MPs decided to collaborate with both INDIA bloc members and other like-minded MPs to raise the issue in parliament.
This effort comes soon after an all-party meeting convened by the chief minister on March 5 to discuss the impact of population-based parliamentary delimitation on Tamil Nadu and other southern states. A joint action committee was formed to organise protests and raise awareness. The move is seen as an attempt to build a broad coalition against the BJP-led central government’s proposed delimitation exercise, which is expected to redraw parliamentary constituencies based on population growth.
The delimitation exercise, scheduled for 2026, has triggered concerns in several southern states, particularly Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, where successful population control policies could now result in a loss of parliamentary representation. By contrast, states in the north, where population growth has remained high, stand to gain additional seats. Stalin has argued that such a change would be fundamentally unfair, as it would penalise states that have invested in education, healthcare, and family planning while rewarding those that have failed to curb population growth.
While the BJP maintains that delimitation is a constitutional necessity and that “not a single seat will be lost due to delimitation,” critics argue that it is being used as a tool to reshape India’s political landscape in favour of the ruling party.
“If the delimitation happens on the basis of population, then it actually means that Southern States are penalised for implementing family control. The Centre is tight-lipped on this – about setting up a delimitation commission and who its members will be. From past experience, we could safely assume that the majority of the commission members will be supporters of the BJP, and we know what their recommendations will be,” says Priyan, senior journalist and political analyst.
Tamil Nadu currently holds 39 Lok Sabha seats, but experts predict that post-delimitation, this number could shrink. Stalin has positioned this as a direct assault on federalism, warning that such a redistribution could permanently alter India’s political landscape, shifting power away from the south and reducing its influence in national decision-making.
Priyan echoes these apprehensions, stating that if such delimitation is implemented, political power will be concentrated in the north. “That will leave the South with no voice of its own on issues that matter. The BJP is not open about several things, and challenging delimitation in court will also be difficult. If an effort like this – through which Tamil Nadu is trying to enlist the support of national-level players – materialises, it will force the BJP to break its silence.”
Tamil Nadu minister for industries T.R.B. Rajaa emphasised the DMK’s consistent opposition to policies that threaten the state’s autonomy. Along with DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran, Rajaa had called on Naveen Patnaik on March 11 to invite him to the conference.
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“The consistent opposition of the DMK to the BJP-led, minority Union government’s policies, like the NEP, the imposition of Hindi, and the delimitation proposal, is rooted in our steadfast commitment to safeguarding our state’s autonomy, economy, and cultural integrity, and the most basic democratic tenets. These policies are direct infringements on the federal structure of our nation, threatening to dilute the voices of states that have been torchbearers of inclusive growth and effective governance,” Rajaa told The Wire.
Sustained efforts
Tamil Nadu has been one of the strongest voices against the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, terming it as an encroachment on state rights in education. The DMK government has refused to implement the NEP, arguing that it undermines Tamil Nadu’s two-language policy by subtly promoting Hindi while eroding the state’s autonomy in curriculum design. Stalin has consistently opposed such moves, frequently challenging the Union government’s push for Hindi in competitive exams, public administration, and educational institutions. He has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on multiple occasions urging the Union government to reconsider measures that promote Hindi at the expense of regional languages, including the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on Official Languages.
Priyan believes that while Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the three-language policy may not garner as much national support as the fight against delimitation, the state must persist in its efforts. “Taking such efforts is not an option for the government and the state – it is a necessity. Whether they ultimately fructify or not, I think the DMK should continue to try and reach out to other national-level players to resist the BJP’s overreach.”
A conference and a strategy
The decision to convene a national conference against delimitation is being seen as part of Stalin’s broader strategy to challenge what he perceives as the BJP’s centralising policies. The conference in Chennai is expected to bring together important leaders from across the political spectrum, including opposition leaders from West Bengal, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Telangana. It is widely seen as a continuation of Stalin’s efforts to unite opposition parties against what he considers the BJP’s systematic erosion of state rights.
Says T.R.B. Rajaa: “In response to this overreach, we have mobilised a collective front through the formation of a Joint Action Committee, which consists of senior leaders from different states and parties, aiming to strategise and advocate against the unfair delimitation exercise vigorously. This conference is about translating our unity and shared concerns into a formidable, sustained movement to protect the interests of our states and our people. The various leaders who attend the conference will collectively decide the exact course of action.”
Since assuming office in 2021, Stalin has aggressively taken on the BJP’s centralising agenda, expanding his influence beyond Tamil Nadu by leading the fight for federalism and social justice. His earlier initiative, the All-India Federation for Social Justice, launched in 2022, aimed to strengthen affirmative action policies and push for a nationwide caste census. Leaders from Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal backed the initiative, giving Stalin a platform to engage with regional parties that share his concerns about centralization.
His efforts to build a nationwide opposition coalition have gained traction over the years. In the lead-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he played a key role in uniting non-BJP forces by engaging in discussions with various leaders. The Delimitation Conference is being viewed as an extension of these efforts. By framing the delimitation debate as a federal issue, Stalin, critics say, is ensuring that it transcends regional politics, turning it into a national conversation. As political observers like Priyan point out, the potential loss of seats for Tamil Nadu and other southern states is not just about political numbers but about policy influence, economic resource allocation, and representation in national decision-making.
T.R.B. Rajaa noted the widespread support the conference has received. “The response to our call for a Delimitation Conference has been overwhelmingly supportive, drawing leaders together to confront what we see as a blatant democratic injustice. As custodians of our people’s future, we are committed to resisting any actions that would undermine our rightful place in the democratic framework of India.”
With major opposition leaders attending the Chennai meet, the event could well mark a significant moment in the larger battle for India’s federal structure.
