Chennai: Claiming that the Biju Janata Dal would do everything to protect the interests of the people of Odisha, former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday suggested the Union government to conduct a detailed discussion with all political parties before arriving at any decision on the delimitation. Patnaik made this remark while addressing the first Joint Action Committee meeting on delimitation convened by Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin virtually.
“…This is an important meeting to ensure democratic representation and rights of people living in states that have done very well to control and stabilise population. Population Control is an important national agenda for the development of our country…While this (population control) has been our contribution towards a positive national agenda, towards building a strong India, delimitation based only on population figures will be unfair to the states that have worked hard to reduce their population growth rates in line with national priorities…It is our stand that population should not be the only criteria to determine number of seats in the highest representative body of our country. I suggest that the Union Government take up a detailed discussion with all parties so as to remove any doubts on this very important issue that has far-reaching implications for our democracy…” Patnaik said.
#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: At the meeting on delimitation, former Odisha CM and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik says, “…This is an important meeting to ensure democratic representation and rights of people living in states that have done very well to control and stabilise… pic.twitter.com/74iMO3UY4z
— ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2025
The meeting, which Stalin dubbed as a historic one, is being attended by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, among other dignitaries like the working president of Shiromani Akali Dal Balwinder Singh Bhunder, and general secretary of Indian Union Muslim League Kerala P M A Salam.
This is beginning of our coordinated resistance….:Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan
Speaking at the event, Pinarayi Vijayan said the southern states would face an unprecedented situation If their Parliamentary representation is further reduced, while the share of the nation’s wealth continues to decline. He feared that the rightful share of funds and outer political voice of southern states will also diminish. “It is in the recognition of the gravity of this issue that we, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Odisha, West Bengal and Punjab are now uniting in protest. We are gathered here at the invitation of Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin to mark the beginning of our coordinated resistance by forming a Joint Action Committee. The Union Government’s actions from fiscal policies to language policies to cultural policies to now even the fixation of representation are destabilising India’s federal system and democratic framework. This cannot be allowed to pass,” he added.
#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: At the meeting on delimitation, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan says. If our Parliamentary representation is further reduced, while our share of the nation’s wealth continues to decline, we will face an unprecedented situation in which both our rightful… pic.twitter.com/UVW0HMxrst
— ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2025
Suggestions by Revanth Reddy
Meanwhile, Revanth Reddy shared some suggestions on the matter at the event. His suggestions are as follows:
1) Do not increase Lok Sabha seats. Do delimitation within the State
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- South won’t accept population-based delimitation. If done this way, north will make us secondary delimitation.
- Pro-rata formula is also not acceptable. It will hurt us politically.
- Follow Vajpayee policy, don’t conduct the exercise for 25 years.
#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: At the meeting on delimitation, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy says, “Today, we have a big challenge facing the country. BJP is implementing a policy of demographic penalty…We are one country, we respect it. But we cannot accept this proposed… pic.twitter.com/MivORWGtSK
— ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2025
Only Hindi-speaking states of North will benefit from delimitation: Punjab CM
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann cited data on proposed delimitation formula and claimed that the seats in Punjab would be decreased because BJP was not winning in the state. However, Hindi-speaking states will benefit, he said.
[Watch] Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin felicitates CMs of states as well as leaders from various parties who are attending the meeting on delimitation.
#WATCH | Chennai: Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin felicitates CMs of states as well as leaders from various parties who are attending the meeting on delimitation.
(Video Source: Tamil Nadu DIPR) pic.twitter.com/WzBReRxKaK
— ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2025
