Chennai, April 18 (NationPress) Kanimozhi Karunanidhi vehemently criticized the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for endorsing the delimitation Bill proposed by the Bharatiya Janata Party, asserting that this action adversely affects the interests of Tamil Nadu and other southern states.

Addressing the media at Chennai airport shortly after returning from Delhi, the DMK leader expressed relief over the reported failure of the Bill in Parliament, viewing it as a significant victory for the people of Tamil Nadu and the southern region.

She emphasized that the proposed legislation had raised serious concerns regarding its potential repercussions on political representation in the South. Kanimozhi pointed out that M. K. Stalin had been proactive in opposing this initiative by reaching out to Chief Ministers of southern states and organizing a high-level meeting in Chennai to foster a united front against it.

According to her, the Chief Minister has persistently highlighted the importance of maintaining the federal balance and ensuring adequate representation for southern states in various forums.

The DMK MP further accused the Centre of politically manipulating the situation by linking the delimitation exercise to the 33 percent women’s reservation Bill, which she claimed undermined women's interests.

She argued that this linkage effectively postponed the implementation of the reservation by making it contingent upon a future delimitation process. Opposition parties united in their dissent against this combined proposal, which ultimately led to the Bill's failure to garner necessary support in Parliament.

“This coalition among Opposition parties demonstrates the gravity of the situation and the widespread apprehension regarding its implications,” she remarked.

While asserting that delimitation should not serve as a political tool, Kanimozhi stated that AIADMK’s endorsement of the Bill had “unveiled” those undermining Tamil Nadu's interests. She criticized the party for aligning with policies that could dilute the state’s political influence at the national level.

Reaffirming the DMK’s position, Kanimozhi insisted that the implementation of women’s reservation should occur immediately based on the current number of constituencies, without tying it to delimitation. She contended that requiring delimitation prior to extending reservation compromises women's rights and delays urgently needed reforms.

She concluded that merging these two measures implies a lack of genuine commitment to women's empowerment and called for the swift execution of the reservation without any preconditions.