Chennai, August 8: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s attempt to forge a common political position on the proposed delimitation exercise has suffered a setback, with major parties, including the DMK and AIADMK, deciding to boycott an all-party meeting of MPs convened in Chennai on Saturday.
Only 20 of Tamil Nadu’s 57 Members of Parliament are expected to participate in the meeting, while 37 MPs have decided to stay away. The large-scale boycott underscores the political divisions surrounding the Chief Minister’s initiative despite broader concerns in the State over the possible impact of delimitation on parliamentary representation.
Vijay convened the meeting to discuss the proposed delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies and evolve a unified response from Tamil Nadu. Political parties in southern States have raised concerns that a population-based redistribution of seats could reduce their relative representation in Parliament compared with States that have recorded higher population growth.
According to the expected attendance, the Congress will have the largest representation at the meeting, with 12 MPs. Two MPs each from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) are also expected to participate. The MDMK and Indian Union Muslim League will be represented by one MP each.
The DMK, however, has decided that all its 30 MPs will stay away from the meeting. The AIADMK, which has four MPs, has also opted to boycott the session.
The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), each with one MP, are also expected to remain absent.
DMK MP Kanimozhi criticised the Chief Minister’s decision to convene the meeting, describing the exercise as unnecessary.
She alleged that the meeting was intended to divert public attention from the Cauvery water dispute, which has once again emerged as a major political issue in Tamil Nadu.
The boycott by the DMK and AIADMK means the meeting will proceed without MPs belonging to two of the State’s principal political forces, complicating Vijay’s efforts to project a united Tamil Nadu position on delimitation.
