Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has strongly opposed the upcoming delimitation exercise, calling it a “blatant assault on federalism.” In a letter addressed to the chief ministers of seven states and various political leaders, Stalin warned that the process would unfairly penalize states that have successfully controlled their population.

Stalin took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his concerns, stating, “The union government’s plan for delimitation is a blatant assault on federalism, punishing states that ensured population control and good governance by stripping away our rightful voice in Parliament. We will not allow this democratic injustice.”

Letters Sent to 7 CMs, Political Leaders Across States

Stalin has written to the chief ministers of Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, and Odisha. He has also sent letters to party leaders in these states, urging them to unite against what he described as an “unfair exercise.”

In his appeal, Stalin called for a joint fight against the delimitation process, emphasizing that it could diminish the influence of states like Tamil Nadu, which have effectively managed their population growth.

Concerns Over Delimitation’s Impact

The delimitation exercise, originally scheduled for 2026, will determine the number of Lok Sabha seats each state receives based on its population. Stalin pointed out that similar exercises were conducted in 1952, 1963, and 1973, but were frozen in 1976 through the 42nd Amendment until the first census after 2000. The freeze was later extended in 2002 until the census after 2026.

Stalin argued that if representation is based on the post-2026 population, states with better population control will face an unfair reduction in their parliamentary seats.

“The delimitation math is simple and sobering. Reports suggest that the exercise is being considered based on population, with two possible approaches—either redistributing the existing 543 seats or increasing the total beyond 800. In both scenarios, states that successfully implemented population control measures stand to lose significantly,” Stalin wrote.

He emphasized that Tamil Nadu, which has adhered to national development goals and controlled population growth, should not be penalized.

Lack of Clarity from the Centre

Stalin criticized the Narendra Modi-led Central government for failing to provide clarity on how the delimitation process will be conducted. He said that the Centre has only given vague assurances without a clear commitment to addressing concerns.

“Despite the gravity of this issue, the Union Government has provided neither clarity nor any concrete commitment to address our concerns. Their representatives have vaguely stated that delimitation would follow a ‘pro-rata’ basis, without explaining the base used for such pro-rata calculation,” he wrote.

“When the very foundation of our democracy is at stake, can we accept such vague assurances? When our states’ futures hang in the balance, do we not deserve transparent dialogue?” he questioned.

Call for a Joint Action Committee

To coordinate opposition to the delimitation exercise, Stalin has invited other states to join a Joint Action Committee (JAC). He has proposed an inaugural meeting in Chennai on March 22 to strategize collective efforts to safeguard states’ interests.

Amit Shah’s Assurances

Last week, Union Home Minister Amit Shah attempted to allay fears in Tamil Nadu, assuring that southern states would get a fair share of seats in the delimitation process. He also said that if the total number of seats is increased, the southern states will receive an equal proportion.

However, Stalin remains unconvinced and has urged like-minded leaders to come together to challenge the exercise.