3 weeks ago
Tamil Nadu Seeks Permanent Lok Sabha Freeze; Opposition Boycotts Meet
Some important leaders in a place called Tamil Nadu are worried about their voice in India's government.
They want India's main law-making group, the Lok Sabha, to stay exactly the same size forever.
The leader of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Vijay, called a big meeting to talk about this.
He and other leaders are afraid that if the number of seats is changed, Tamil Nadu will get fewer seats and less say.
Many state leaders did not come to the meeting because they were upset with how it was arranged.
Some leaders, called the DMK, said the meeting was just a show, like a movie drama.
They say the real problem is a fight over water from a river.
The leaders who did come decided to ask the state government to pass a special rule.
They want the national government to stop changing the number of seats.
Everyone agrees that states with fewer babies should not be punished, but they do not agree on how to fix it.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay chaired a meeting of state MPs on Saturday seeking a permanent freeze of the Lok Sabha at 543 seats.
Only 20 of Tamil Nadu's 57 MPs attended; 37 boycotted, including those from the DMK, AIADMK, PMK, DMDK and MNM.
The meeting resolved to bring an Assembly resolution next week urging the Union government to abandon delimitation and extend the freeze on constituency numbers.
Participants rejected a possible 50 percent Lok Sabha expansion as an 'illusion intended to sweeten the pill,' demanding Parliament stay at 543 elected seats.
DMK leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi dismissed the meeting as a 'political drama' diverting attention from the Cauvery dispute and the proposed Mekedatu dam.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said Tamil Nadu's representation must be guaranteed at 39 seats and appealed to all parties to rise above party politics.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and the 20 attending MPs; 37 MPs from the DMK, AIADMK, PMK, DMDK and MNM boycotted.
- What
- An MPs' meeting that resolved to permanently freeze the Lok Sabha at 543 seats, preserve each state's existing share of representation, and bring an Assembly resolution against delimitation.
- Where
- Kalaivanar Arangam, Tamil Nadu.
- When
- Saturday, with an Assembly resolution expected to be introduced next week.
- Why
- Because the population-based delimitation exercise is expected to reduce Tamil Nadu's parliamentary representation and importance.
Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government and attending MPs
DMK and AIADMK
Lok Sabha freeze vs expansion
Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government and attending MPs
Parliament should remain at 543 elected Lok Sabha seats with unchanged relative representation of states; even a 50 percent expansion is an 'illusion intended to sweeten the pill.'
DMK and AIADMK
The 1971 population should remain the basis for representation for another 30 years after 2026, and Tamil Nadu's roughly 7.18 percent share should be protected if Parliament is expanded.
Consultation process
Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government and attending MPs
Meeting MPs to work in unison is imperative to protect the state's right against delimitation.
DMK and AIADMK
The government should have formally written to party presidents and leaders to send their MPs; calling MPs individually without leaders' knowledge is 'absolutely wrong,' and the DMK's position was already settled through an earlier all-party process under M.K. Stalin.
Political motive
Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government and attending MPs
The meeting aims to protect Tamil Nadu's representation from a delimitation exercise that would reduce its importance.
DMK and AIADMK
The meeting is a 'political drama' intended to divert attention from the Cauvery dispute and the proposed Mekedatu dam in Karnataka.
Key facts
- Meeting convener
- Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay
- Venue
- Kalaivanar Arangam
- Attendance
- 20 of Tamil Nadu's 57 MPs (39 Lok Sabha, 18 Rajya Sabha) attended; 37 boycotted
- Core demand
- Permanent freeze of Lok Sabha at 543 seats with unchanged state shares
- Participating parties
- Congress, VCK, CPI, CPI(M), IUML, MDMK
- Boycotting parties
- DMK, AIADMK, PMK, DMDK, MNM
- Next step
- Assembly resolution expected next week
- DMK alternative
- 1971 population as basis for another 30 years after 2026; protect Tamil Nadu's ~7.18% share if Parliament is expanded
Quotes
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
“This is an issue beyond party politics. This is an issue that concerns Tamil Nadu's rights and Tamil Nadu's representation in the Parliament of India. Tamil Nadu can't be diminished in the Parliament of India. Tamil Nadu's place in the Parliament of India must be preserved. Any delimitation, whatever might be that formula, whether it is based on population or a uniform increase, will diminish our role in Parliament, and that can't be allowed. We discussed the repercussions of delimitation, in wh”
deccanchronicle.com
“The DMK’s position had already been settled through an earlier all‑party process initiated by former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin: the 1971 population should remain the basis for representation for another 30 years after 2026, and Tamil Nadu’s roughly 7.18 percent share should be protected if Parliament is expanded.”
indianexpress.com










