TN CM seeks assurance against loss of parliamentary representation in delimitation

Addressing the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay asked the Union government to give a clear legislative assurance that no state would suffer a reduction in its percentage of representation in Parliament because of its success in population stabilisation. Vijay said the southern states had been at the forefront of population stabilisation, human development and economic growth, and that their achievements in fulfilling national priorities should not result in fewer parliamentary seats. He said there was a 'genuine and shared concern' among the southern states that delimitation based predominantly on population could diminish their collective voice in Parliament. His remarks came against the backdrop of the approaching end of the freeze on the allocation of Lok Sabha seats based on the 1971 Census and consideration of the Delimitation Bill, 2026.