'Timing Raises Serious Suspicion': M.K. Stalin Takes on Centre's Move to Bulldoze Delimitation |
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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has posted on X on the NDA government’s proposal to increase parliamentary seats.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham chief wrote that this is a politically-driven move that weakens parliament, undermines federalism, and skews representation toward northern states. It penalises southern states for population control, increasing costs, and reducing debate quality.
Supporting women’s reservation, Stalin says it should be implemented without expanding seats or excluding OBC representation.
His full note is below.
This Is Not Reform, This Is Reengineering Power
The NDA government under Hon’ble Prime Minister Thiru. [Narendra Modi] is systematically eroding the very foundations of Parliament. What should be a vibrant forum for debate and accountability is being reduced to a hollow ritual, a stage where members may not even get fair time to speak or represent their people.
This proposal to increase seats is a direct contradiction of their own slogan of minimum government, maximum governance. It will only inflate expenditure, burden taxpayers, and dilute the quality of parliamentary functioning.
This also goes against the spirit of Article 1 of the Constitution, which defines India as a Union of States. Ignoring the voices of states and bypassing meaningful consultation is not democratic – it is unitary overreach that undermines India’s federal and plural character.
More alarmingly, this exercise will blatantly skew representation and tilt the balance of power in favour of northern states dominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party, while silencing the voice of South India. As forcefully pointed out by veteran leader Thiru. [Siddaramaiah], this is not a neutral exercise; it is a calculated political restructuring. Northern states stand to gain nearly double the seats, while the South’s share stagnates at around 24%. This is nothing short of penalising states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Keralam and Telangana for their success in population control.
Chief Ministers across the South, including Thiru [Siddaramaiah], Thiru [Pinarayi Vijayan] and Thiru [Revanth Anumula], have rightly warned that this move will distort federalism and concentrate power in a few regions.
The timing raises serious suspicion. Why push such a far-reaching decision in the middle of state elections? This appears to be yet another political manoeuvre aimed at shaping electoral narratives, much like earlier attempts to influence women voters ahead of the 2024 Parliament elections.
Let me be unequivocal: we strongly support 33% reservation for women. Our support is absolute. But it must be implemented without increasing seats and without punishing states that acted responsibly. If the intent is genuine, nothing prevents immediate implementation within the existing framework.
The government’s claims of being a champion of OBCs and social justice are deeply hollow. It has denied OBCs their rightful share, kept the Rs 8 lakh creamy layer ceiling frozen for decades even while preaching a “Developed India”, and offers no meaningful guarantee for OBC women’s representation. The haste to proceed without even considering the outcome of the first comprehensive caste census expected in 2027 further exposes the lack of sincerity. This is not empowerment, it is exclusion dressed up as reform.
There is complete opacity on the basis for delimitation, will it rely on 1971 figures from a pre-population control era or the 2021 Census? Conflicting signals and vague assurances only deepen suspicion.
This move will also impose a massive financial burden on states, forcing them to expand or rebuild Legislative Assemblies, all without proper consultation. This is a direct assault on cooperative federalism.
This is not reform, it is a unilateral, politically driven exercise designed to concentrate power, weaken Parliament, marginalise the South, and undermine social justice.
The nation deserves answers: why this undue haste, why shift the goalposts, and who truly stands to benefit?