Hubballi (Karnataka): Senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily on Saturday condemned the ongoing discussions on delimitation, calling them undesirable. He stated that Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s assurance that parliamentary seats of southern states will not be reduced is insufficient to address concerns raised by leaders from these states.
“I think loose talk with regard to delimitation is not desirable in the country…The Delimitation Commission will have to be appointed, and it is the job of the Delimitation Committee to decide. Even a reference has to be made to the Delimitation Committee,” Moily told media.
He further emphasized the need for a balanced approach, stating, “It has to be done after taking all parties into confidence…Union Home Minister says that no seats should be reduced in southern India. That doesn’t mean that they will not increase the seats in the north…that amounts to deprivation of proper representation of the south in Parliament.”
Joint Action Committee Calls for Transparency in Delimitation Exercise
Following the first meeting of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) on delimitation, a resolution was unanimously adopted, emphasizing that any delimitation exercise should be conducted transparently and with extensive consultations with all stakeholders.
DMK MP Kanimozhi, addressing the press, voiced concerns over the lack of clarity in the process.
“I would like to read the resolution which has been passed today. The JAC (Joint Action Committee) expressed its deep concern on the lack of transparency and clarity in the delimitation exercise without any consultation to the various stakeholders. The JAC expressed its appreciation to the CM of Tamil Nadu for taking up this initiative to safeguard the political and economic future of performing states in India. Based on the various points and scenarios put forth by representatives during the discussion, the JAC unanimously resolved that – Any Delimitation exercise carried out by the Union Government to improve the content or character of our democracy should be carried out transparently enabling political parties of all states, state governments and other stakeholders to deliberate, discuss and contribute,” she stated.
Kanimozhi further referenced past constitutional amendments aimed at incentivizing states that effectively implemented population control measures.
“Given the fact that the legislative intent behind the 42nd, 84th and 87th Constitutional amendment wants to protect and incentivize states which had implemented population control measures effectively and the goal of national population stabilization has not yet been achieved. The freeze on parliamentary constituency based on 1971 census population should be extended by another 25 years,” she added.
Key Political Leaders Attend Meeting in Chennai
The Joint Action Committee meeting was chaired by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in Chennai. It was attended by several prominent leaders, including:
- Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy
- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann
- Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan
- Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar
- Odisha Congress President Bhakta Charan Das
- Biju Janata Dal leader Sanjay Kumar Das Burma
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin also announced that the next meeting on the delimitation issue will be held in Hyderabad, Telangana.