The DMK and the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) have declared that they will resist any attempt to carry out the delimitation exercise in Tamil Nadu if the Centre introduces a related bill in Parliament. Their stand comes even though the Union government's legislative agenda for the monsoon session, scheduled to begin on July 20, does not feature the proposed “delimitation package,” which includes the Nari Shakti Adhiniyam, or women’s reservation Bill.
The matter was among the key issues discussed during the DMK's meeting of its Members of Parliament on July 16. During the meeting, party president M K Stalin directed MPs to function as a “constructive opposition” while firmly opposing initiatives that could undermine Tamil Nadu's interests.
Addressing reporters on Friday, DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai said the party would resist any legislation introduced by the BJP-led Union government that, in its view, compromises state rights or runs contrary to the Constitution of India.
“The DMK had a meeting of the MPs with our leader M K Stalin and he has instructed them to be constructive opposition and to oppose this delimitation bill which will be against the interest of the States, especially to the state of Tamil Nadu. We stand to lose out if the bill is going to be passed like what happened on the last occasion,” he said.
Annadurai also referred to indications from the BJP that an all-party meeting may be convened to discuss the issue, while stressing that the DMK would decide its course of action only after greater clarity emerges.
“We will have to wait and see what is going to come out of that all party meeting and what the BJP is going to propose,” he said.
He further noted that the proposed delimitation legislation does not appear in the list of bills scheduled for the upcoming Parliament session.
“So, we have to see, and it (delimitation bill) is not listed in the list of bills that has been released by the Parliamentary ministry. So we have to see whether they are going to introduce it, whether there will be any all-party meeting, so all these things are there,” he said.
The DMK has consistently opposed the proposed delimitation exercise. On April 16 this year, Stalin publicly set fire to a representational copy of the proposed bill, calling it a “black law” and claiming it would be detrimental to the people of Tamil Nadu. The proposal, along with the accompanying constitutional amendments, was voted down in Parliament the next day after it failed to secure the required two-thirds majority.
TVK chief and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has likewise voiced opposition to the exercise. Before the Assembly elections, he had labelled the proposed delimitation exercise a “biased” initiative by the Union government. He reaffirmed that position during a visit to Karur on July 10 after taking office.
“Talks are emerging from the Central government regarding the introduction of Delimitation. Regardless of who introduces it, Tamil Nadu will firmly reject it. We must not allow our rightful representation to be stripped away and we will ensure it is not taken,” Vijay said.
The BJP, however, maintained its support for the exercise. Party spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy said, “Delimitation has to happen, it should have happened in the year 2000 itself.”
Leaders of the AIADMK chose not to comment on the matter.
