Tamil Nadu CM seeks assurance against seat loss in delimitation

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay called on the Union government on Thursday to provide a legislative guarantee that no state will lose its share of parliamentary representation due to a nationwide delimitation exercise. Speaking at the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting in Kovalam, Chengalpattu district, Vijay argued that southern states should not be penalized for successfully controlling their population growth.

Vijay’s appeal, made during the council meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, came amid growing concern over the proposed Delimitation Bill, 2026. The bill aims to redraw electoral constituencies and requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament to pass. The freeze on reallocating Lok Sabha seats based on the 1971 Census is nearing its end, and southern states fear that an exercise based on current population figures would diminish their political voice.

"The Southern States have been at the forefront of population stabilisation, human development, and economic growth," Vijay stated. "These achievements reflect the successful implementation of national priorities and should not result in a reduction of our representation." He urged the Centre to...