In a powerful and politically charged message, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to publicly address the growing concerns surrounding the impending delimitation of parliamentary constituencies, a process that could significantly alter the federal balance of power between Indian states. Stalin’s demand comes at a time when regional leaders across southern India are voicing strong opposition to any move that may reduce their states’ political representation, despite their success in controlling population growth.
Stalin made the statement on the same day that Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the new Pamban Railway Bridge in Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram, a vital infrastructure project aimed at improving connectivity between the mainland and the pilgrimage town. While PM Modi was seen participating in the event alongside Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Stalin’s noticeable absence from the Prime Minister’s visit did not go unnoticed. The political undertone of this absence became evident as Stalin issued a strongly worded statement from Chennai.
“Standing on Tamil soil, the Prime Minister must give a clear and unambiguous guarantee: Tamil Nadu and other southern states that have made tremendous progress in controlling population growth should not be punished in the upcoming delimitation process. Our share of parliamentary seats, in percentage terms, must remain unchanged,” Stalin said in his appeal.
The Chief Minister further stressed that any delimitation exercise that does not consider the efforts of states like Tamil Nadu to implement effective family planning policies would amount to a betrayal of cooperative federalism. He added that delimitation based on the upcoming 2026 Census could skew parliamentary representation in favour of states with higher population growth, which may also be states with lesser per capita development indicators.
To safeguard the interests of Tamil Nadu, Stalin urged PM Modi to back his assurances with concrete legislative action.
“The only way to ensure a fair and just delimitation process is by passing a constitutional amendment in Parliament. A mere verbal assurance is not enough. The fears of the people must be addressed through institutional guarantees,” he stated.
Stalin’s demand is rooted in a long-standing commitment made by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government in 2001, which passed a constitutional amendment to freeze the number of seats in Parliament based on the 1971 Census, despite multiple subsequent censuses being conducted. This move was intended to incentivize states that promoted population control and ensured that they would not be penalized in terms of representation.
However, this freeze is due to expire in 2026, and unless renewed or amended, it could lead to a drastic reshuffling of Lok Sabha seats. Under such a scenario, states with high population growth could gain seats, while states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and others in the South could see their representation diminish—despite outperforming many others in terms of literacy, healthcare, and economic development.
“If the delimitation is implemented based on the 2026 figures, Tamil Nadu and similar states will be disproportionately impacted. We will be made to pay a price for our success. This is unacceptable and unjust,” Stalin emphasized.
He appealed to Modi to honour Vajpayee’s precedent by extending the current arrangement for at least another 30 years, which would not only uphold equity but also maintain national unity and trust in federal institutions.
Political analysts believe that the issue of delimitation could emerge as a major electoral and regional flashpoint in the coming years, particularly as it affects representation, resources, and decision-making at the national level. Southern states have consistently contributed higher revenue to the central pool, while receiving a lower share of funds in return—another point of contention in Centre-state dynamics.
In the larger context, Stalin’s statement reflects broader apprehensions in southern India about being marginalized politically in favour of the more populous northern states. Many regional leaders have also pointed to the growing cultural and linguistic imposition, citing attempts to prioritise Hindi or impose centrally devised policies that disregard local contexts.
As the 2026 deadline approaches, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s call for a transparent, inclusive, and fair approach to delimitation may resonate across party lines, especially in states where coalition politics and regional identity remain strong.
