Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
At a time when the Centre has signalled its intention to reintroduce the delimitation bill, which it has linked to the implementation of women’s reservation, the issue has become the latest flashpoint in Tamil Nadu. Amid buzz that the DMK has softened its stance on the bill much to the unease of the INDIA bloc, Udhayanidhi Stalin clarified to India Today that the party had opposed delimitation from the very beginning and “will continue to do so”.
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With differing voices emerging on the key issue, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has called a meeting with state MPs to discuss the proposed delimitation exercise. So far, the DMK had not presented a stern stance on the bill amid talks of its revival. It had led to unease in the opposition, especially the Congress.
DMK CLARIFIES ON DELIMITATION AMID BUZZ
A united opposition had defeated the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in April, which proposed lifting the freeze on expanding the number of Lok Sabha seats.
However, much water has flown down the Cauvery since DMK supremo MK Stalin burnt a copy of the bill as a symbolic protest. The DMK exited the INDIA bloc at the national level after the Congress ditched the party to support Vijay’s TVK in Tamil Nadu.
The delimitation bill seeks to redraw constituencies based on the 2011 Census. It will see the total number of Lok Sabha seats rising from 543 to 850.
Clearing the DMK’s stance on the bill, Udhayanidhi said, “The DMK has always opposed delimitation. We will continue to oppose it in the future.”
“This is not a new issue. The Centre is presenting it as if it has surfaced for the first time,” the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly told India Today.
Significantly, the clarification came hours after a report in The Hindu claimed the DMK has indicated it might support the delimitation bill if three changes were incorporated. With 22 MPs in the Lok Sabha and eight in the Rajya Sabha, the DMK is the fifth-largest constituent in Parliament.
The DMK has demanded that the 1971 Census and not the 2011 exercise should remain the basis for delimitation of the Lok Sabha for the next 25 years.
The party has also sought a blanket 50% increase in the Lok Sabha seats for all states. This was verbally promised by Union Home Minister Amit Shah when the bill was brought in Parliament in April.
Thirdly, according to the report, the DMK wants the bill to include a state-wise list showing how many seats each state will have following the proposed delimitation exercise.
Udhayanidhi’s clarification on the DMK’s position comes against the backdrop of the report.
THE DELIMITATION MUDDLE FOR TAMIL NADU
Now, why is Tamil Nadu opposed to the delimitation exercise?
The key argument of parties in Tamil Nadu and southern states is that linking the delimitation exercise to population would unfairly benefit the North, where population growth has been higher. The southern states have historically performed better in population control.
The South fears it will lead to a smaller increase in seats than the northern states, where the BJP wields influence. This will not only result in the South losing its voice in Parliament, but it may also lose out on tax devolution.
The six southern states – Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha and Telangana – account for around 24% of the population.
Now, let’s understand the math.
Presently, Tamil Nadu has 39 Lok Sabha seats. Its share in Parliament is 7.2%. If the strength of each state is increased by 50%, as demanded by the DMK and other parties, Tamil Nadu will have 59 seats.
CM VIJAY CALLS MEETING OF MPs
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Vijay will hold a meeting with MPs from the state on Saturday to discuss the proposed delimitation bill and its potential impact on the state. Vijay had previously called the Centre’s delimitation exercise a “biased move” and vehemently opposed it.
The meeting will be attended by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs from Tamil Nadu. The move by Vijay to engage with parties across the political spectrum earned praise from Congress MP Manickam Tagore.
“Over the past 12 years, I have seen five chief ministers as MPs. However, this is the first time I have seen a Tamil Nadu Chief Minister take the step of personally inviting MPs from all parties for a consultation, without any political differences,” Tagore tweeted.
“Everyone must stand together so that Tamil Nadu speaks with one voice in Delhi against the oppression of the BJP-led Centre,” he further said.
Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has already conveyed to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju that the delimitation bill was “not acceptable” to the opposition.
The timing of the meeting is crucial, with the DMK and the TVK being at loggerheads recently. The dramatic arrest of Udhayanidhi earlier this week over alleged vulgar remarks against actor Trisha, a close friend of Vijay, further added to the bad blood.
With the DMK having the largest number of MPs from the state, it is expected that the party would influence the outcome of the meeting.
(With inputs from Anagha)
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
