Delimitation concerns : TN assembly passes resolution to retain 543 Lok Sabha seats

Chennai, August 12

The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday passed a special resolution moved by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay urging the Union government to permanently freeze the strength of the Lok Sabha at 543 and safeguard the existing distribution of parliamentary seats among States.

Moving the resolution, Vijay said the allocation of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats among States and Union Territories had remained protected from population-based redistribution for decades, with the 1971 Census serving as the basis for the long-standing freeze.

The Chief Minister referred to a constitutional amendment Bill defeated in Parliament in April 2026 that proposed a fresh delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census and an increase in the strength of the Lok Sabha.

Vijay warned that any future redistribution of seats based on population figures after 1971 could adversely affect Tamil Nadu and other southern States that had successfully implemented population-control programmes.

He said States that effectively controlled population growth, achieved stronger economic development and improved healthcare and public welfare should not be penalised through reduced parliamentary representation.

The resolution urged the Centre to permanently retain the Lok Sabha’s strength at 543 and freeze the existing inter-State distribution of seats. It also sought to maintain the existing 2.2:1 ratio between the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

The House further demanded implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in the 2029 Lok Sabha election based on the existing 543 constituencies, as well as in subsequent Assembly elections, without further delay.

During the debate, the DMK, CPI(M), CPI, VCK, IUML and other parties supported the government’s resolution, though differences emerged over some provisions.

The BJP, AIADMK and PMK opposed parts of the proposal, while several parties supported the provision on women’s reservation.

Following the debate, the resolution was put to a voice vote. Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar declared the special resolution adopted by the Assembly.