NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin chaired a high-level meeting on March 22, bringing together regional leaders to oppose the Central governmentโs proposed restructuring of Lok Sabha constituencies. The gathering, which included Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other senior politicians, raised serious concerns that the redistricting plan could unfairly shrink parliamentary seats for southern states while expanding representation in the north.
Stalin stressed that their opposition was not to the idea of redistricting itself but rather to the imbalanced approach being considered. He proposed forming a special advisory panel under a Joint Action Committee (JAC) to develop legal and political measures against the changes. โWe seek a fair and just redistribution, not a politically motivated one,โ Stalin declared, urging the JAC to increase public awareness and pressure the Centre for an equitable approach.
The proposed restructuring is aimed at reallocating Lok Sabha constituencies based on demographic shifts. However, southern states, which have effectively managed population growth, risk losing seats, while northern states, with higher population increases, stand to gain. This has triggered concerns that the southโs political influence could be significantly weakened.
Concerns Raised
During the discussions, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan accused the BJP-led Centre of using the delimitation process for political advantage, warning that it could undermine Indiaโs federal structure. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram cautioned that southern states could collectively lose 26 Lok Sabha seats, reducing their total from 129 to 103, thereby diluting their voice in national policymaking.
Stalin emphasized the need for a united front, calling on Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, and Punjab to join forces against the proposed changes. In a video statement ahead of the meeting, he described March 22 as a โlandmark moment in Indiaโs federal historyโ, asserting that the battle is about protecting constitutional rights and ensuring fair representation for all regions.
Next Steps
The JAC is now working on finalizing legal and political strategies, with southern states gearing up to challenge the delimitation process through legal petitions and political mobilization. The resolution passed at the meeting reaffirmed their commitment to securing a fair electoral structure, ensuring that every state maintains its rightful place in Indiaโs democratic system
