We’ll grow to be residents with out political energy in our personal nation: T.N. CM Stalin on delimitation

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Ok. Stalin and Chief Ministers and leaders from different States forward of the Joint Motion Committee assembly on delimitation, in Chennai on Saturday (March 22, 2025)
| Photograph Credit score: Particular Association

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Ok. Stalin on Saturday (March 22, 2025) mentioned the delimitation train was not simply in regards to the variety of Lok Sabha seats, however “our rights, our energy, and our future.”

“A lower in our illustration in Parliament would power us to struggle for funds resulting from us,” he mentioned, whereas talking on the first Joint Motion Committee assembly on delimitation held in Chennai. The assembly was attended by Chief Ministers, former Chief Ministers, Leaders of Opposition, and others from seven States.

“Legal guidelines can be enacted with out our consent. Selections that may have an effect on our individuals can be taken by those that have no idea us. It’s going to trigger a setback to the empowerment of ladies, college students will lose main alternatives, and farmers will languish with out assist. Our tradition, identification, and progress will face hazard. Social justice can be affected,” he mentioned.

Mr. Stalin mentioned individuals belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) could be essentially the most affected, and if the numbers of constituencies had been decreased or the State’s representations had been allowed to be decreased, “there’s a hazard of us turning into residents with out political energy in our personal nation.”

The Chief Minister, nevertheless, made it clear that he was not against any steps that may strengthen democratic illustration. “However these steps shouldn’t have an effect on real political illustration. Our battle shouldn’t be in opposition to delimitation, however to insist on truthful delimitation,” he identified.

He prompt that the JAC be renamed as ‘Joint Motion Committee for Honest Delimitation’. He additionally proposed the structure of a committee of authorized and political consultants to debate the matter of truthful delimitation.

Mr. Stalin mentioned that the decision adopted within the assembly alone wouldn’t present an answer or finish the battle for truthful delimitation. “You will need to make steady efforts. On the one hand, we now have to place strain on the Centre and on the opposite, we now have the joint motion committee to create consciousness amongst individuals,” he mentioned.

Mr. Stalin mentioned the assembly could be an essential occasion in defending the federal nature of India. Chief Ministers of Kerala, Telangana, and Punjab — Pinarayi Vijayan, Revath Reddy, and Bhagwant Mann, respectively — Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.Ok. Shivakumar, Biju Janata Dal presient Naveen Patnaik, Bharat Rashtra Samithi chief Ok.T. Rama Rao, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, and DMK MP Kanimozhi, amongst others, had been in attendance.