Rama Krishna Sangem
The non-BJP chief ministers of four southern states and Punjab will be fighting in the Supreme Court against the Narendra Modi led central government’s proposal to go for a delimitation of Lok Sabha seats.
In the first Joint Action Committee meeting of states hosted by the Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK over the proposed delimitation of Parliamentary seats by the Centre, Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday made it clear that the fight is likely to be taken forward to the legal realm as well.
In the meeting, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the delimitation of LS seats was hanging like the “sword of Damocles,” and alleged the BJP government was going ahead on the issue without any consultation.
He said “This sudden move is not driven by Constitutional principles or democratic imperatives,” but by narrow political interests. Delimitation, if done after Census will lead to an increase in seats for northern states, a reduction for southern states. Such a cut in seats for the south and, an increase for the north will suit the BJP as it holds greater influence in the north.
Fair delimitation, the CMs want
Addressing the meeting here, CM Stalin, favoured setting up an expert panel to draw up the political and legal action plan. He proposed christening the panel as ‘Joint Action Committee for fair delimitation’ and sought ideas to initiate legal action, by taking forward political fight. He said: “We are not against delimitation, we are for fair delimitation,” adding “Continuous action is very essential to establish rights.” On the JAC he said it was very essential to create awareness among people, and to urge Centre. Stalin was for a united fight to win; and said “Our representation must not decline.”
BJP imposing a policy of “demographic penalty,” alleged Telangana CM Revanth Reddy at delimitation meet in Chennai. South India did very well in family planning, but big states in north failed, he claimed. “Do not increase Lok Sabha seat numbers,” in the delimitation exercise, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy tells Centre.
“We contribute more to national exchequer and get lesser allocations. In case of population based delimitation, north will make us secondary citizens,” alleged Telangana CM.
