The move comes even as protests intensified outside Parliament and across Tamil Nadu, where Chief Minister M K Stalin led a dramatic show of resistance earlier in the day.
In Chennai, Stalin burned a copy of the proposed legislation and hoisted a black flag to launch a statewide agitation, calling the Bill a “black law” that would reduce the political voice of Tamil Nadu.
Also read: Government tables Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament to implement 33% quota for women ahead of 2029 Lok Sabha elections
Wearing black attire, he urged citizens to display black flags in what he described as a broader struggle to protect state rights and federal balance, invoking parallels with past anti-Hindi agitations.
The protests have been building for weeks but escalated after Centre moved to operationalise provisions linked to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, including a proposed constitutional amendment to delink delimitation from the next Census cycle.
Opposition leaders have also questioned the timing of the special Parliament session that began today and will continue till Saturday, alleging undue haste and lack of wider consultation.
Southern states ramp up protests, flag federal concerns
The resistance has been most intense in Tamil Nadu, where ministers and DMK leaders echoed Stalin’s concerns that the proposed exercise could erode the state’s parliamentary strength despite its success in population control. Black flags were raised at multiple locations, including outside the residence of state minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, signalling a coordinated political mobilisation.
State leaders have argued that Centre’s reported plan to increase Lok Sabha seats—potentially up to 850—could sharply tilt representation in favour of states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where population growth has been higher. “We see this as an act of taking away state rights,” Poyyamozhi said, warning that federalism was being turned into a “conflict” rather than a consultative process.
Southern leaders have also flagged the broader implications: projections suggest that while the absolute number of seats in southern states may rise marginally, their share in the Lok Sabha could decline significantly compared to northern states. This has fuelled concerns that states which invested in population stabilisation may be politically penalised, even as they remain among the country’s largest economic contributors.
Also read: Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin kicks-off statewide anti-delimitation agitation, burns copy of proposed bill
What is delimitation and why it is contentious
Delimitation refers to the redrawing of parliamentary and assembly constituencies to reflect changes in population, ensuring equal representation. Under Articles 82 and 170 of the Constitution, this exercise is carried out by a Delimitation Commission after each Census.
However, the process has been frozen since 1976 through a constitutional amendment aimed at encouraging population control, with the freeze extended until 2026. The upcoming exercise is expected to be the first major revision in decades and is likely to significantly alter the political balance between states.
The core of the controversy lies in the population-based formula: states with higher population growth stand to gain more seats, while those with lower growth may see their relative influence decline. Southern states argue this undermines the spirit of cooperative federalism, as it disregards their demographic achievements and economic contributions.
The issue is further complicated by its linkage to the implementation of women’s reservation and the restructuring of SC/ST reserved constituencies, making delimitation not just a technical exercise but a far-reaching political recalibration.
