MK Stalin-led panel passes resolution, seeks delimitation freeze for 25 more years
TAMILNADU,MAR 22 : The Joint Action Committee (JAC), led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, convened in Chennai today, adopted a resolution opposing any delimitation exercise that lacks transparency and fails to involve key stakeholders.
The meeting was attended by representatives from multiple states concerned about the impact of the upcoming delimitation on their political and economic future.
The resolution emphasised that any changes to parliamentary constituencies should be made through a fair and open process, with participation from all state governments, political parties, and other relevant stakeholders.
The JAC expressed concerns that states which have successfully implemented population control measures might be unfairly penalised if their parliamentary representation is reduced due to a shifting population share.
Pointing to the legislative intent behind past constitutional amendments, the JAC underscored that the freeze on parliamentary constituencies based on the 1971 Census was meant to protect and incentivise states that took effective steps to stabilise population growth. Since the national population stabilisation goal has not yet been achieved, the resolution called for extending the freeze by another 25 years.
“The States which have effectively implemented the population control program and consequently whose population share has come down, should not be penalised,” the resolution read.
A Core Committee of Members of Parliament from the participating states will coordinate strategies within Parliament to counter any delimitation proposal that does not align with these principles.
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As part of its action plan, the committee will submit a joint representation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the ongoing parliamentary session. Political parties from the represented states will push for legislative resolutions in their respective assemblies, officially communicating their stance to the Union Government.
The JAC also committed to a large-scale public awareness campaign to educate citizens about the history of delimitation and its potential consequences. Through coordinated efforts, they aim to mobilise public opinion in favour of a fair and equitable approach.
With this resolution, the JAC has reinforced its position that any delimitation exercise must uphold the principles of federalism and democracy.
DMK’s Parliamentary Party leader Kanimozhi read the draft proposal, and said “any delimitation exercise carried out by the Union government to improve the content and character of our democracy should be done transparently, enabling political parties of all the states, state governments, and other stakeholders to participate, and contribute to it.”
WHO ATTENDED THE MEET
Opposition leaders from southern states and Punjab gathered in Chennai for the meeting against the proposed delimitation exercise.
Chief Ministers of Kerala, Telangana, and Punjab, Pinarayi Vijayan, Revanth Reddy, and Bhagwant Mann and Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka DK Shivakumar attended the event. Former Telangana IT Minister and BRS working president KT Ramarao and leaders from political parties such as YSRCP, Congress, CPI(M), CPI, BJD, and, AAP were also present.
-PTI
