Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday raised concerns over a possible parliamentary constituency delimitation exercise, warning that it could upset the balance between regions if carried out without clarity and consultation.
In a statement, Stalin asked why the BJP-led Union government has not explained how delimitation would be conducted. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to answer what he called “reasonable questions” raised by the public and southern states.
Referring to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s 2001 decision to defer delimitation for 25 years, Stalin said southern states have sought a similar assurance now and demanded to know the Prime Minister’s response to that request.
Stalin also questioned the need to convene a special session of Parliament while elections are underway in five states, and why opposition leaders’ suggestion to hold it only after April 29 was ignored.
He alleged that attempting major constitutional amendments without calling an all-party meeting for consultations reflects an authoritarian drift. Stalin said the DMK would not accept any decision taken without consultation with southern states, and reiterated his demand for a “fair delimitation.”
