Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Tamil Nadu Assembly Urges 543 Lok Sabha Seats, Women's Quota
The Tamil Nadu Assembly, which makes laws for the state of Tamil Nadu in India, had a big debate lasting about two hours.
After the debate, they passed a special motion, called a resolution, asking the national government to do two things.
First, they want the number of seats in the national parliament to stay at 543 forever.
Second, they want at least 33 out of every 100 seats, in parliament and in state assemblies, to be for women by the year 2029.
The Chief Minister said this is women's right, not a gift.
The assembly also said states that kept their population from growing too much should not lose seats when seats are redrawn.
Different political parties did not all agree.
Some supported the whole resolution, some only supported the part about women, and one party asked for the whole resolution to be withdrawn.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution urging the Union government to permanently fix Lok Sabha strength at 543.
The resolution demands 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies by 2029.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay said women's reservation is a democratic right, not a concession.
The resolution opposes delimitation proposals that could adversely affect states with successful population control.
DMK, CPI and CPI-M supported the resolution; AIADMK backed only the women's quota; PMK opposed it.
- Who
- The Tamil Nadu Assembly, led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, with reactions from DMK, AIADMK, CPI, CPI-M, PMK and BJP members.
- What
- Passed a resolution urging the Union government to permanently fix Lok Sabha strength at 543, implement 33% women's reservation by 2029, and not let delimitation hurt states with successful population control.
- When
- Wednesday, following the August 8 meeting of Tamil Nadu MPs.
- Where
- The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in Chennai.
- Why
- To protect Tamil Nadu's and southern states' representation ahead of the Union government's delimitation initiative and to secure women's democratic right to reservation.
Pro-resolution
Pro-delimitation
Women's reservation
Pro-resolution
33% reservation for women must not be delayed anymore and is a democratic right, not a concession.
Pro-delimitation
PMK opposed the resolution and demanded it be withdrawn; AIADMK limited support to the women's quota clause only.
Delimitation impact
Pro-resolution
The Centre must ensure no state that implemented population control programmes is adversely affected by delimitation.
Pro-delimitation
BJP's Bhojarajan said the Centre's delimitation initiative considers the welfare of future generations.
Stance on the August 8 meeting
Pro-resolution
The August 8 meeting of Tamil Nadu MPs unanimously decided to oppose the delimitation exercise in total.
Pro-delimitation
DMK dubbed the deliberations a 'farce' and AIADMK called it a 'hurriedly staged drama'; both boycotted it.
- Resolution
- Permanently fix Lok Sabha strength at 543
- Women's reservation
- 33% in Lok Sabha and state assemblies by 2029
- Opposition to delimitation
- Yes - Centre urged not to penalize states with successful population control
- Debate duration
- About two hours
- Supporters
- DMK, CPI, CPI-M; AIADMK supported only the women's quota clause
- Opponents
- PMK, which urged withdrawal; BJP defended the Centre's delimitation initiative
- Prior MP meeting
- August 8 meeting demanded a 2.2:1 Lok Sabha-Rajya Sabha seat ratio; boycotted by DMK and AIADMK