Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin convened an all-party meeting, where parties “unanimously rejected” the upcoming Parliamentary constituency delimitation process set for 2026. A resolution passed at the meeting in Chennai on Wednesday stated that delimitation would “weaken” Tamil Nadu and pose a “threat to India’s federal structure.”

Several parties, including the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam, and the Communist parties, participated in the meeting. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Naam Tamilar Katchi, and Tamil Maanila Congress chose to boycott it.

According to the resolution passed during the meeting, which took place between 10 a.m. and noon, using population figures from the upcoming census as the sole basis for delimitation will impact "the political representation rights of Tamil Nadu and other South Indian states."

The resolution says, “It is entirely unjustifiable to reduce the parliamentary representation of Tamil Nadu and other south Indian states solely because they have proactively implemented population control measures in the national interest.”

The all-party meeting also decided that the freeze on delimitation based on the 1971 population census, “which extends until 2026, should be extended for the foreseeable future.” Speaking separately at the meeting, Stalin emphasised that the “status quo should continue for at least three decades.”

Additionally, the meeting resolved to form a Joint Action Committee (JAC) consisting of various political parties from Tamil Nadu. According to the resolution, the JAC will invite political parties from other South Indian states to join in “the fight against delimitation.”

During his speech, Stalin urged southern states to “collectively oppose” delimitation based on population. He also pointed out that despite Tamil Nadu having 39 MPs in Parliament, its voice is still not acknowledged by the Centre.

Stalin warned that "a delimitation exercise will only make matters worse." He had previously stated that if delimitation based on population is implemented, Tamil Nadu’s representation in Parliament would drop from 39 MPs to 31. He also assured that his government would take "all measures to prevent implementation of delimitation," calling it a "grave danger" to the state. He says the battle against delimitation is a battle for Tamil Nadu’s rights.

On the other hand, the state BJP, led by its president, K. Annamalai, dismissed the concerns, calling the meeting "funny." Annamalai argued that "the fear of delimitation affecting the southern states is imaginary."