Chief Minister MK Stalin said that the all-party meeting was primarily intended to discuss the potential negative effects of the upcoming delimitation process on Tamil Nadu.
Published Feb 25, 2025 | 1:46 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 25, 2025 | 1:56 PM
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin speaking to reporters.
Synopsis: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced that an all-party meeting will be held on 5 March. Stalin said that the all-party meeting was primarily intended to discuss the negative effects that the upcoming delimitation process would pose on Tamil Nadu.
Amid the intensified tussle between the Tamil Nadu government and the Union government, Chief Minister MK Stalin addressed a press conference on Tuesday, 25 February, and announced that an all-party meeting will be held on 5 March.
“We are organising an all-party meeting to discuss delimitation, three-language policy, education issues, tax sharing and other issues,” Stalin told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.
The chief minister also wrote a letter addressing leaders of all political parties and movements, calling for a united front against the potential consequences of the upcoming Lok Sabha delimitation exercise based on the 2026 Census.
“The sword of Damocles is hanging over the South Indian states. The proposed delimitation of Parliamentary constituencies,” Stalin said.
“As the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, I would like to bring to everyone’s attention that the process of delimiting the Lok Sabha constituencies based on the 2026 census is very dangerous. Tamil Nadu and other Southern states have done a great job in controlling population growth. But if that is the reason why our strength in Parliament will decrease; if it can suppress our voice, how can it be justified?” Stalin asked.
“According to the Union government’s delimitation guidelines, Tamil Nadu (and other Southern states) is expected to face significant setbacks, potentially leading to a reduction in the number of parliamentary representatives from the state. This poses a serious concern as strong representation is crucial in Parliament to voice opposition against issues like the three-language policy, NEET, and unfair fiscal distribution,” he said.
The Tamil Nadu government and the Union government are also in a tussle over the three-language policy mandated in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
While Tamil Nadu seems adamant about allowing only two languages in education, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had said that Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds for the state wouldn’t be released unless the state implements the NEP.
Stalin said that Tamil Nadu was ready for another language war.
Highlighting the risks posed to Tamil Nadu, Stalin emphasised that while the state has consistently protected its rights within India’s federal framework, it continues to face challenges in matters of fiscal distribution and power-sharing. The chief minister expressed concern that the delimitation exercise, if implemented based on the 2026 Census, could drastically reduce Tamil Nadu’s representation in the Lok Sabha, leading to severe disadvantages for the state.
Citing Article 82 of the Indian Constitution, Stalin pointed out that while the current freeze on delimitation — based on the 1971 Census — was put in place to incentivise population control efforts, states like Tamil Nadu that have successfully managed population growth now face the paradox of being penalised through reduced parliamentary seats.
According to projections, if delimitation occurs strictly based on current population data, Tamil Nadu could lose up to eight Lok Sabha constituencies. Even in scenarios where the total number of Lok Sabha seats is increased to 848, the state may gain only 10 new constituencies instead of the 22 it rightfully deserves, resulting in a net loss of 12 seats.
“Currently, Tamil Nadu has 39 seats in the Lok Sabha. After the delimitation, based on population, we will be potentially left with eight fewer seats in the Parliament. We will be left with 31 MPs. It will affect all the decisions impacting the state,” Stalin added.
“We ask that a fair and transparent process be followed in a manner that preserves the principles of federalism,” he added.
தமிழ்நாட்டின் முதலமைச்சர் என்கிற முறையில், 2026-ஆம் ஆண்டு மக்கள் தொகைக் கணக்கெடுப்பின் அடிப்படையிலான மக்களவைத் தொகுதி மறுசீரமைப்பு நடவடிக்கை மிகுந்த ஆபத்தாக இருப்பதை அனைவரின் கவனத்துக்கும் கொண்டு வருகிறேன்.
மக்கள் தொகைப் பெருக்கத்தைக் கட்டுப்படுத்துவதில் தமிழ்நாடு முதலிய தென்… pic.twitter.com/1B2Q9a5jbG
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) February 25, 2025
Stalin urged all political parties across the state to keep aside their differences and jointly raise voices in favour of Tamil Nadu against the “discrimination” it has been facing.
He argued that the delimitation would further marginalise Tamil Nadu’s voice in national policy-making, exacerbating existing issues like underrepresentation, fiscal bias, and central overreach in state affairs.
He also highlighted the potential impact on Tamil Nadu’s rights in areas such as education and cultural preservation, warning that reduced parliamentary strength would weaken the state’s ability to resist such central interventions.
Calling for collective action, the Chief Minister invited all party leaders to a crucial consultative meeting at the state Secretariat’s Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai at 10 am on 5 March to deliberate on strategies to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s interests.
Stalin’s letter underscores the growing unease among southern states regarding the looming delimitation exercise, which could reshape the balance of power in India’s federal structure, potentially disadvantaging states that have succeeded in population control.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose.)
