Delimitation row: Stalin calls on CMs of other States to join Joint Action Committee

M.K. Stalin. File
| Photo Credit: S.S. Kumar

Drumming up support from Chief Ministers and former Chief Ministers of States likely to be affected by the delimitation process, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin wrote to them on Friday (March 7, 2025), requesting their consent to join a Joint Action Committee (JAC). Despite the gravity of the issue, the Union government has provided “neither clarity nor any concrete commitment” to address States’ concerns, Mr. Stalin pointed out.

Besides southern States such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, Mr. Stalin also hoped to include Odisha, Punjab, and West Bengal in the proposed JAC. As an “initial step towards unified action,” the Tamil Nadu CM also proposed an inaugural meeting in Chennai on March 22 to “chart our collective course forward.”

“I believe this issue transcends individual State concerns — it strikes at the heart of our federal principles. Together, we must examine the constitutional, legal, and political dimensions of this challenge. We must jointly develop alternatives that preserve our current representation in percentage terms,” Mr. Stalin contended in his letter.

‘Unified advocacy’

Calling for a collaborative analysis and unified advocacy towards securing a delimitation process that “honours our role in nation-building without compromising our current level of representation in percentage terms,” Mr. Stalin requested them to nominate a senior representative from their respective parties, who can serve on the JAC and help coordinate the strategy.

“This moment demands leadership and collaboration, rising above political differences, and standing up for our collective good. What is at stake is not any abstract principle — it is our States’ ability to secure rightful resources for development, to influence crucial policies on education and healthcare, and to ensure our economic priorities receive due attention in the national agenda,” Mr. Stalin said.

Recalling an all-party meeting recently held in Chennai, he said the meeting resolved to stand united in defence of “our constitutional rights, demanding a fair delimitation.” It further resolved to form a JAC and reach out to all States across India which “potentially face the same threat,” he said.

Post 2026, the situation may become drastically skewed if the delimitation exercise was conducted as per the next census, he argued. “Those States which controlled their population and achieved superior governance indicators will face an unjust punishment — reduced representation in the very forum where national policies are determined”.

Once implemented, this democratic imbalance could persist for decades, leaving our States with diminished capacity to advocate our people’s interests, secure rightful resources, and influence critical national decisions, he said. “For the record, we are not against delimitation itself. What we oppose is its weaponisation against States that fulfilled their national duties, thus punishing progress,” he clarified.

‘We should not be penalised’

Citing reports that suggest that the delimitation exercise was being considered based on population, with two potential approaches, Mr. Stalin said: “In both scenarios, all the States that have successfully implemented population control measures stand to lose significantly if the exercise is based on post-2026 population. We should not be thus penalised for effectively controlling population growth and upholding national development goals.”

In the first case, the existing 543 seats could be redistributed among the States, and in the second case, the total number of seats could be increased beyond 800, he said citing reports.

While the Union government has provided neither clarity nor a concrete commitment to address concerns, “their representatives have vaguely stated that delimitation would follow a ‘pro rata’ basis, without explaining the base used for such pro rata calculation as well as raising an empty rhetoric that no State will face a decrease in its seats,” he underlined.

“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?” Mr. Stalin asked.