Lagatar24 Desk
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has reached out to seven state leaders across the country, urging them to form a Joint Action Committee (JAC) to oppose the Centre’s proposed delimitation exercise. He called the move a direct attack on federalism and invited Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, West Bengal, Odisha, and Punjab to join forces in resisting what he described as “democratic injustice.”
States Urged to Form Unified Strategy
In a letter addressed to the chief ministers of these states, Stalin laid out two specific requests:
1. A formal commitment from the concerned states to oppose delimitation.
2. Nominating a senior party representative to join the Joint Action Committee (JAC) to strategize collectively.
To kickstart the movement, Stalin has proposed a high-level meeting in Chennai on March 22, where political representatives from these states will discuss a unified response to the delimitation proposal.
“This moment demands leadership and collaboration, rising above political differences and standing up for our collective good,” Stalin stated in his letter.
Stalin Challenges Amit Shah’s ‘Pro-Rata Basis’ Remark
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Stalin also countered Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s justification that the delimitation would be conducted on a pro-rata basis, which he dismissed as “empty rhetoric.”
Stalin strongly opposed the idea, arguing that the move unfairly penalizes states that have successfully controlled their population and promoted good governance.
“This issue transcends individual state concerns and strikes at the heart of the federal principle. It affects our states’ ability to secure rightful resources for development, influence policies on education and healthcare, and ensure our economic priorities receive due attention in the national agenda,” he added.
Broad Political Outreach Across Parties
MK Stalin has extended invitations not just to chief ministers but also to leaders across political parties, urging them to stand united against delimitation.
The invitation has been sent to CPI(M), BJP, Congress, AAP, TDP, YSRCP, BJD, and Akali Dal, encouraging them to send senior representatives to the March 22 meeting in Chennai.
He emphasized that this fight is not about political divisions but about protecting the future of their people.
“Let us stand together not as separate political entities but as protectors of our people’s future,” he urged.
A Political Showdown Over Federalism
Stalin has taken the fight to social media, rallying support against the delimitation proposal, which he called:
“A blatant assault on federalism, punishing states that ensured population control & good governance by stripping away our rightful voice in Parliament. We will not allow this democratic injustice!”
With this massive outreach, Stalin aims to galvanize opposition across multiple states and present a united frontagainst the Union Government’s proposed delimitation exercise. The coming weeks are expected to witness high-pitched political debates over the future of federal representation in Parliament.
