March 22, 2025: Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin hosted the first meeting of Joint Action Committee (JAC) in Chennai, marking the beginning of a “national movement” to ensure fair representation in parliament. The event was attended by leaders from multiple states, who shared concerns about the impending parliamentary seat delimitation exercise.
What’s at stake?
The delimitation exercise, expected to follow the next national census, may lead to Southern states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana losing representation in Parliament. This is due to their successful population control measures, whereas northern states with higher population growth may gain seats.
Stalin’s stand:
Addressing the JAC meeting, Stalin emphasized that the movement is not against delimitation itself, but against an unfair implementation of it. Stalin proposed forming a legal expert committee to challenge the process if needed.
Constitutional ramification:
The 42nd and 84th constitutional Amendments froze the delimitation process until 2026 to ensure that states controlling population growth were not penalized. With the deadline approaching, southern states fear a reduction in their representation.