CHENNAI: DMK announced its decision to boycott the consultative meeting of Tamil Nadu MPs convened by the TVK govt to evolve a collective strategy for the state regarding delimitation of parliamentary constituencies.In a statement, DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi Karunanidhi criticised the state govt’s move as a ‘political drama’ intended to divert public attention from the ongoing Mekedatu dam controversy and Cauvery water dispute.Kanimozhi highlighted that party president and former chief minister M K Stalin had previously alerted the state to the potential risks of delimitation, organised an all-party meeting, and established a joint action committee in Chennai alongside chief ministers and political leaders from other southern states.She stressed that DMK’s stance remains firm and unchanged based on the resolutions unanimously adopted in the earlier all-party meeting.The Union govt must guarantee that the 1971 population census remains the baseline for defining parliamentary constituencies for an additional 30 years beyond 2026, backed by a constitutional amendment.If the overall strength of Parliament is increased, the proportional representation of Tamil Nadu (7.18%) and other southern states across both Houses must be maintained based on 1971 population ratios.Southern states must not be penalised through reduced parliamentary representation for their success in population control and socio-economic development over the past five decades.“When allied parties including the Congress, CPI, CPI (M), IUML, and VCK have already endorsed these resolutions, what is the necessity for another consultative meeting? With no official notification or revised bill tabled by the Union govt in the current parliamentary session, there is nothing new to discuss,” Kanimozhi stated.She pointed out that while political parties across Tamil Nadu have repeatedly demanded an all-party meeting regarding the proposed Mekedatu dam project in Karnataka, the TVK administration has maintained silence.She reiterated that DMK general secretary Duraimurugan had previously laid down a condition that an all-party meeting on the Mekedatu dam must be convened before discussing delimitation.Challenging the state govt’s commitment to farmers and Cauvery rights, she urged the TVK administration to send a delegation of Tamil Nadu representatives alongside state MPs to hand over the state assembly’s anti-Mekedatu resolution directly to the Union Jal Shakti minister.
