NEW DELHI: Let govt bring the bill on raising the strength of Lok Sabha, then DMK will spell out its stand, the regional party with a crucial bloc of 22 MPs in the House said Sunday, confirming that the party is willing to revisit its stand on delimitation if its provisions do not harm the interest of southern states.Senior DMK functionary Tiruchi Siva said govt should first make it clear as to what is on its mind as his party wants more clarity on the matter. TOI had exclusively reported Saturday that DMK is open to negotiation with govt if it is given an ironclad guarantee that the interests of southern states will not be adversely affected.“I want to underscore if southern states are affected, then we will not accept it in any manner. Our representation in Parliament should remain…,” he said in what appeared to be his pitch for maintaining the existing share of strength of southern states. As part of INDIA bloc in the last Parliament session, DMK was at the forefront of protest against the constitution amendment bill, which was eventually defeated as a joint opposition denied a two-thirds majority govt needed for its passage.
DMK is no longer part of INDIA bloc as its ally Congress joined hands with actor Vijay-led TVK, which trounced the M K Stalin-led party in the Tamil Nadu assembly polls, giving rise to the possibility that it may be open to business with BJP on renegotiated terms.Asked about Shah’s assurance, Siva said, “He (Shah) had said he will bring a bill. Let the bill come out and we will spell out DMK’s stand.”To a question about his stand if the seats are raised by 50% in all states, he said he will not react to speculation.
