New Delhi: The delimitation bill has turned out to be a flashpoint in Tamil Nadu politics. This comes at a time when Centre has indicated its intention of reintroducing the bill that it has linked to the implementation of women’s reservation. In such a scenario, there have been speculations that DMK may soften its stance on the bill. But clearing such claims, Udhayanidhi Stalin told an English news channel that his party would continue the oppose the bill.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has called a meeting with state MPs to discuss the proposed bill. Before Stalin’s statement to India Today, the DMK had not presented a stern stance on the bill. This had caused unease in the Opposition, especially for the Congress.
In April, a united opposition had defeated the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill. The bill had proposed lifting the freeze on expanding the number of Lok Sabha seats.
Earlier, DMK supremo MK Stalin had burnt a copy of the delimitation bill as a symbolic protest. But things changed after the Congress ditched DMK to lend support to Vijay. The DMK exited the INDIA bloc at the national level thereafter.
Know the bill
The delimitation bill proposes to redraw constituencies based on the 2011 Census. As per the proposed bill, the total number of Lok Sabha seats will rise from 543 to 850.
“The DMK has always opposed delimitation. We will continue to oppose it in the future,” Udhayanidhi told India Today.
“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 added.
Earlier, a report in The Hindu claimed the DMK had indicated that it might support the delimitation bill if three changes were introduced. With 22 MPs in the Lok Sabha and eight in the Rajya Sabha, the DMK is the fifth-largest party in Parliament.
According to the reports, the DMK has demanded that the 1971 Census should remain the basis for delimitation of the Lok Sabha for the next 25 years.
The party has also sought 50% increase in the Lok Sabha seats for all states. The DMK also wants the bill to include a state-wise list showing how many seats each state will have, reported India Today.
