The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday witnessed a sharp face-off as the DMK and the ruling TVK clashed over the state’s official stance on the upcoming delimitation exercise.
Defending the government’s stand, Minister Adhav Arjuna asserted that the government’s position remains unwavering. “No delimitation is our stand. We are opposing the 50% increase in all states too. We want the existing 7.18% share of Tamil Nadu in Parliamentary seats to be maintained,” the minister stated. The war of words came after Vijay on Thursday urged the Union Government to provide a clear assurance that no state would lose parliamentary representation as a consequence of the proposed Delimitation Bill, 2026, warning that population-based delimitation could disproportionately affect the Southern states. Earlier reporting noted: The chief minister did not repeat the resolution passed in the assembly on August 12 which demanded permanent freezing of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha or for permanently retaining the existing state wise allocation.
“The TVK government passed a resolution in this House to freeze total Lok Sabha seats at 543, but Chief Minister Vijay did not use the word ‘freeze’ at the Southern Zonal Council meeting,” Udhayanidhi said alleging a dilution of the state’s demand. “Our government has no change in stand with regard to delimitation,” he said. “If they ask only for fair delimitation, it would be a betrayal to Tamil Nadu,” Arjuna remarked, claiming the DMK had previously not insisted on the 543-seat cap. “As the freeze on the allocation of Lok Sabha seats based on the 1971 Census approaches its end and the Delimitation Bill, 2026, is considered, there is a genuine and shared concern across the Southern States that delimitation based predominantly on populations may diminish our collective voice in Parliament,” Vijay said addressing the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council. Earlier reporting noted: Vijay skips mention of resolution seeking to freeze Lok Sabha seats in delimitation message to govt, sparks row A row erupted in Tamil Nadu over the delimitation exercise after chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday urged the Centre to provide a “clear legislative assurance” that no State will suffer a reduction in its percentage of representation in Parliament. Earlier reporting noted: In his speech at the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council in Mahabalipuram, Vijay said, “I urge the Union government to provide a clear legislative assurance that no State will suffer a reduction in its percentage of representation in Parliament on account of its success in population stabilisation.”
Minister Adhav Arjuna countered Stalin Junior, alleging that the DMK had historically shifted its position.
Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin questioned Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, pointing out that while the state assembly had passed a resolution to “freeze” the number of Lok Sabha seats at 543, the Chief Minister had omitted the specific term during the zonal meeting that took place yesterday.
