Union Home Minister Amit Shah has firmly addressed concerns surrounding the upcoming delimitation exercise, assuring that southern states will not face a reduction in their parliamentary seats. His statement comes in response to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s claims that the exercise could reduce Tamil Nadu’s Lok Sabha constituencies by up to eight. Speaking at the inauguration of BJP offices in Coimbatore, Tiruvannamalai, and Ramanathapuram, Shah sought to dispel fears, stating, “The Modi government has made it clear in Lok Sabha that after delimitation, not a single seat will be reduced in any southern state on a pro-rata basis. The southern states will receive their fair share in the increase.”
Amit Shah’s reassurance comes ahead of an all-party meeting called by MK Stalin on March 5, where Tamil Nadu’s leadership plans to discuss the implications of delimitation. MK Stalin had earlier described the process as a “sword hanging over South India,” alleging that the exercise could disproportionately affect states like Tamil Nadu, which have successfully implemented population control measures.
Modi Ji, while protecting all your interests, has ensured that on a pro-rata basis not a single seat is going to be reduced, and the southern states will get their rightful share on any increase in seats.
பிரதமர் மோடி அவர்கள், அனைத்து மாநில நலன்களையும் பாதுகாக்கும் அதே வேளையில்,… pic.twitter.com/L9WxulYPxB
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 26, 2025
The delimitation exercise, scheduled for 2026, aims to redraw parliamentary constituencies based on population metrics. Southern states fear that their effective population policies may result in diminished representation, while states with higher population growth may gain more seats. This has led to rising tensions, particularly in Tamil Nadu, where political leaders argue that the process could be unfair to the South.
Amit Shah, however, dismissed these claims as misleading propaganda, accusing Stalin of stirring unnecessary panic among the people.
“You are lying to Tamil people and misleading them with false claims about delimitation,” he stated.
With delimitation set to become a major political debate, Amit Shah’s remarks indicate that the BJP is committed to addressing concerns while ensuring that no state is unfairly disadvantaged in the process.
