Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured that no southern state, including Tamil Nadu, will lose parliamentary seats due to the upcoming delimitation exercise. He made this statement while addressing a rally in Coimbatore on Wednesday, aiming to alleviate concerns raised by political leaders in the region.

Delimitation and Its Impact on Representation

The delimitation exercise, originally scheduled for 2026, seeks to redefine the number of Lok Sabha representatives from each state based on population. This has led to concerns, particularly in the southern states, that their representation might decline due to successful population control measures.

Shah’s remarks came a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin called for an all-party meeting in Chennai on March 5 to discuss the potential impact of the exercise. Stalin has expressed concerns that the redistribution could reduce Tamil Nadu’s Lok Sabha seats from 39 to 31, terming it as “a sword hanging over the southern states.”

Amit Shah’s Assurance to Southern States

Addressing the concerns, Amit Shah reassured the public that the central government is committed to protecting the interests of the southern states.

“I want to reassure the public of South India that Modi ji has kept your interest in mind to make sure that not even one seat is reduced pro rata,” Shah stated. “Whatever increase is there, Southern states will get a fair share, there is no reason to doubt this.”

Countering Stalin’s Allegations on Central Funds

Shah also refuted Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin’s claims that the Centre has been withholding funds from the state.

“There is no truth in MK Stalin's statement. The Modi government has given Rs 5 lakh crore to Tamil Nadu in the last five years,” he said, citing figures from the government.

He further alleged that the real financial neglect of Tamil Nadu occurred during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, stating that a comparison of funds disbursed by the UPA and NDA governments would prove this claim.

BJP’s Political Ambitions in Tamil Nadu

In his speech, Amit Shah also made a strong pitch for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), asserting that the alliance will form the government in Tamil Nadu in 2026.

“Get ready for the formation of an NDA government in Tamil Nadu. In 2026, we will establish an NDA administration. This new government will usher in a new era for Tamil Nadu. We will put an end to nepotism in the state. Corruption will be eradicated in Tamil Nadu…” he declared.

MK Stalin’s Stand on Delimitation

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has been vocal against the upcoming delimitation exercise, arguing that states like Tamil Nadu, which have successfully controlled their population, should not be penalised with fewer parliamentary seats.

“Tamil Nadu succeeded in population control through the family planning programme. Just because the population is less, there is a situation of the Lok Sabha seats being cut down (in TN). We stand to lose eight seats and as a result, we would be having only 31 MPs, and not 39,” Stalin stated.

The CM has invited 40 registered political parties in Tamil Nadu to participate in the all-party meeting on March 5 to discuss the issue in detail.

Projected Changes in Lok Sabha Representation

A 2019 analysis by Milan Vaishnaw and Jamie Hintson of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace projected that a delimitation exercise could increase the total strength of the Lok Sabha to 668.

Uttar Pradesh, currently holding 80 seats, could see its representation rise to 143. Tamil Nadu’s representation is expected to increase modestly from 39 to 49. Kerala, which has 20 seats, may see no change at all.

However, the Union government has not officially announced a timeline for the delimitation process or the census that will form the basis for this redistribution.

As concerns over delimitation continue to grow, Amit Shah’s reassurances seek to ease fears among southern states about a possible reduction in their parliamentary representation. With Tamil Nadu’s political leadership gearing up for discussions, the issue is likely to remain a significant topic of debate in the coming months. The central government has yet to provide a clear roadmap for the exercise, leaving much room for speculation and political discourse.