The Joint Action Committee meeting in Chennai marks a pivotal move by southern states and allies to protect their parliamentary representation, vowing to uphold federalism, equity, and justice in India’s democracy
Published Mar 22, 2025 | 8:33 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 22, 2025 | 8:33 PM
India’s delimitation debate: The JAC’s bold push for representation, federalism, and fiscal parity
Synopsis: A key meeting of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), chaired by Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, was held in Chennai, addressing concerns over the 2026 parliamentary constituency delimitation. Attended by three CMs, one Deputy CM, and representatives from southern states, Punjab, and Odisha, the meeting emphasised the need for fair representation for states with population control success. Several resolutions, aimed at equitable delimitation, were passed.
A significant meeting of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), chaired by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, concluded today in Chennai. The meeting included three Chief Ministers, one Deputy Chief Minister, and representatives from southern state political parties, as well as delegates from Punjab and Odisha.
The gathering aimed to address concerns over the proposed 2026 parliamentary constituency delimitation, which is feared to reduce the representation of southern states that have effectively controlled their population. Several key resolutions were adopted, emphasising the need for a fair and equitable delimitation process.
In India, parliamentary representation has been based on the 1971 population census for over five decades. Due to the significant population disparities among states, delimitation based on current population figures has been deferred for the past 50 years to avoid penalising states, particularly in the south, that have successfully implemented population control measures. However, with this freeze set to expire in 2026, debates and concerns have resurfaced.
With India’s population now estimated at 140 crore, delimitation based on current demographics, could severely impact the parliamentary representation of southern states. Tamil Nadu and other southern states have already begun raising their voices against this potential injustice.
To take this issue to the next level, on 5 March, 2025, the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government convened a meeting of all political parties in the state. The meeting resolved to form a Joint Action Committee comprising representatives from affected states to ensure that southern states are not disadvantaged in the upcoming delimitation process.
Based on this decision, the first meeting of the Joint Action Committee was held today,22 March, in Chennai under the leadership of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. The meeting saw participation from prominent leaders, including:
Biju Janata Dal leader Naveen Patnaik participated in the meeting through video conference and delivered his speech.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) skipped the meeting. A delegate from Pawan Kalyan’s party arrived in Chennai yesterday, but he did not participate in today’s meeting. Instead, it was conveyed that Pawan Kalyan would soon speak directly with MK Stalin. Meanwhile, Jagan Mohan Reddy has directly written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding concerns over delimitation.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s inaugural address
Welcoming the attendees, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Stalin delivered the opening address, stating:
“We have gathered to protect Indian democracy and federalism, with leaders from various states standing united for this cause. Each state has its own unique identity, and true federalism requires autonomy for balanced development. The BJP government is penalizing states that have controlled their population by reducing their parliamentary representation. This will impact democracy, social justice, and the rights of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. This is not just about delimitation but about our fundamental rights. We demand a fair and just process, not reduced representation. Tamil Nadu’s unity must be reflected across all affected states. I propose naming this group the ‘Fair Delimitation Joint Action Committee’ and forming an expert panel to examine the issue further. This struggle won’t end today—we must pressure the central government and raise awareness. Unity is our strength, and we must fight to protect our representation.”
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan emphasised that “Federalism is our constitutional right, not a concession.”
He elaborated, “The proposed delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies threatens to reduce the representation of southern states, unfairly penalising those that successfully implemented the National Population Policy of 1976. This move, driven by political interests rather than constitutional principles, disrupts India’s federal balance, diminishing both our political voice and financial share. States like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Odisha, West Bengal, and Punjab are uniting in protest against this unjust process. The Union Government’s approach disregards federalism and incentivises population growth over responsible governance. Delimitation should not be carried out solely based on population but must consider historical commitments and regional diversity. A Joint Action Committee is being formed to ensure our rightful representation is protected. we will resist any attempt to weaken Federalism.”
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy proposed decentralisation as a potential solution, asking, “Why can’t Prime Minister Narendra Modi do the same now? Leave the Lok Sabha seats as they are.” He suggested continuing the policy of freezing the number of Lok Sabha seats, adding:
“The larger question can be delayed for another 25 years, by which time, hopefully, the population proportions in India will change, and the north too can achieve Total Fertility Rate (TFR) levels matching the south. The 2001 decision of the NDA government led by Prime Minister Vajpayee, while opting for no change in the number of Lok Sabha seats, decided on a limited delimitation exercise—adjusting only the boundaries of constituencies within states. They also made the wise decision to reserve seats for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) based on the 2001 census. Prime Minister Narendra Modi can take a leaf out of PM Vajpayee’s book—leave the Lok Sabha seats as they are for another 25 years but conduct population-based delimitation within states. This will ensure justice for SCs and STs by providing more reserved seats. Even after freezing the number of Lok Sabha seats within each state, we can adjust constituencies within states, provide additional SC and ST reserved seats, and introduce an additional reservation quota for women. The larger question can be delayed for another 25 years.”
An alternative solution, he added, “One of the biggest problems cited for the need for delimitation is the representation proportion—how many people should a Lok Sabha MP or an MLA represent? As a former MP of one of the world’s largest parliamentary constituencies, Malkajgiri in Telangana, I know this problem firsthand. But Parliament is about making policies for the country, not addressing the most primal concerns of citizens, which happens at the state level. We can conduct population-based delimitation for State Assemblies, because most people’s problems can be solved by an MLA, a state minister, or a Chief Minister, more than by an MP, a Union Minister, or the PM. If we increase the number of MLAs, the people of India will not face representation issues vis-à-vis Lok Sabha MPs, regardless of constituency population size.”
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann argued that if the BJP government wishes to maintain Punjab’s current percentage of seats, the state should be allocated 21 seats.
He remarked, “The BJP would never form a government in Punjab, as it would focus only on forming governments in Hindi-speaking states.”
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar sent a strong message to the Union Government, asserting, “Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and other progressive states will not be silenced. We will fight in the courts, in Parliament, and on the streets to protect our rights, resources, and identity. Unity is our strength—drawing from the defiance of Periyar, the statesmanship of Annadurai, and the fire of Basavanna—when these states stand together, no power can break us. This struggle goes beyond numbers; it is about identity, culture, and heritage. Karnataka’s literary legacy, Tamil Nadu’s Sangam poetry, Kerala’s classical arts, and Andhra’s Telugu heritage are the soul of India. Yet, the Centre’s push for ‘One Nation, One Language’ threatens this diversity, undermining linguistic and cultural sovereignty. Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam are not mere dialects but the lifeblood of civilisations.”
He highlighted Karnataka’s stance, “The Karnataka Assembly has unanimously rejected delimitation based on a new census, demanding that the 1971 Census remain the basis to ensure states are not penalized for population control efforts. This is not a North-South divide but a fight for an India where all states are treated as equals. We call for a fair delimitation process that accounts for development, governance quality, and economic contribution, ensuring states that controlled their population are not marginalized. Strengthening the Rajya Sabha as a legislative counterbalance, enforcing language equality through a National Language Rights Commission, and mandating regional languages in Central institutions are key demands. The Joint Action Committee must continue as a permanent coalition to coordinate legal, legislative, and grassroots advocacy, reaffirming our commitment to federalism and justice.”
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik emphasised the need for a fair approach to seat allocation. He highlighted that states like Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, West Bengal, and Punjab have successfully controlled population growth in line with national priorities. Penalising these states by reducing their representation in Parliament and Assemblies would be unjust. He urged the Union Government to ensure that population is not the sole criterion for delimitation and called for a detailed discussion with all parties to address concerns and uphold democratic fairness.
While the meeting focused on delimitation, representatives from southern states also raised concerns about fiscal equity.
Revanth Reddy pointed out the disparity in fiscal returns, “Even though the south contributes a higher ratio to GDP, we get a very small share. For every rupee, Tamil Nadu gets only 26 paise, Karnataka gets 16 paise, Telangana gets 42 paise, and Kerala gets 49 paise. Meanwhile, Bihar gets 6 rupees 6 paise, Uttar Pradesh gets 2 rupees, and Madhya Pradesh gets 1.73 rupees. There is a pressing need for fiscal equity.”
DK Shivakumar echoed this sentiment, sharing stark figures,“Karnataka contributes over ₹4 lakh crore annually to the Centre’s Gross Tax Revenue. Yet, what do we get in return? A mere ₹45,000 crore in tax devolution and ₹15,000 crore in grants. For every rupee Karnataka contributes, only 13 paise comes back to us. This is not just an economic injustice; it is a systemic plunder of our resources. Karnataka, with just 5 percent of India’s population, contributes 8.4 percent to the national GDP. We are the highest GST contributors in the country. Southern states, contributing 35 percent of India’s GDP, are treated as ATM machines for the North. Yet, our share in central funds is disproportionately low. The 15th Finance Commission’s population-based formula has already cost us dearly. If the delimitation exercise proceeds as planned, our political voice will be further diminished, and our ability to advocate for our rights in Parliament will be crippled.”
He proposed, “We need a new fiscal federalism pact that ensures fair tax devolution and resource sharing. The 16th Finance Commission must prioritise equity, efficiency, and performance. Introduce economic and social indicators in resource allocation. Central fund allocations should factor in economic performance, fiscal discipline, and governance quality.”
BRS working president KT Rama Rao also stated, “While we account for only 2.8 percent of India’s population, we contribute more than 5 percent to the GDP. However, we receive a disproportionately lower share in devolution. Political and fiscal centralisation will not help India become a superpower. India should embrace cooperative federalism, not coercive federalism.”
The Joint Action Committee unanimously adopted the following resolutions during its first meeting:
Next meeting to be in Hyderabad
The Joint Action Committee meeting in Chennai marks a significant step by southern states and their allies to safeguard their parliamentary representation and fiscal rights. With a united front, these leaders have vowed to continue their struggle through coordinated efforts, ensuring that federalism, equity, and justice prevail in India’s democratic framework.
Additionally, the next JAC meeting will be planned to take place in Hyderabad, signalling the committee’s commitment to sustained collaboration across states.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
