Chennai, March 2 (NationPress) The Tamil Maanila Congress (M) has declared its decision to refrain from participating in the all-party meeting organized by the Tamil Nadu government on March 5. Party leader and former Union Minister G.K. Vasan remarked that the meeting is merely a strategy to distract the public from pressing issues that remain unresolved in the state.

He emphasized that the Central government has yet to issue any formal communication regarding the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies within Tamil Nadu.

During his visit to Tamil Nadu on February 25, Union Home Minister Amit Shah made it clear that the Central government has not taken a definitive position on delimitation matters, asserting that Tamil Nadu's parliamentary seats would only increase and not decrease.

The Tamil Maanila Congress (M) has voiced its discontent with the policies of the Central government, which includes the three-language formula and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The party has also criticized the state government for failing to take a firm stance against these policies.

It is noteworthy that the Tamil Nadu BJP has also declared its boycott of the all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister Stalin.

State BJP president K. Annamalai announced on March 1 that his party would not attend the all-party meeting called by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to deliberate on delimitation issues.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, Annamalai accused CM Stalin of perpetuating “imaginary and baseless fears” regarding the delimitation process. He stated, “You have distorted the delimitation exercise and summoned an all-party meeting to spread imaginary fears and misinformation, before any official details have been disclosed.”

He further contended that if CM Stalin was genuinely concerned about Tamil Nadu losing parliamentary seats due to delimitation, he should have instructed the 39 MPs from the INDIA bloc to raise this matter during the Budget session of Parliament.

Annamalai also accused CM Stalin of trying to shift public attention away from governance challenges. “With lawlessness rampant, governance in chaos, widespread corruption, and policy paralysis, you focus on creating video reels daily instead of tackling real issues. This entire delimitation controversy is nothing but a figment of your imagination,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Stalin defended the necessity of the all-party meeting, asserting that delimitation represents a serious threat to Tamil Nadu’s representation in Parliament. He indicated that all 40 registered political parties in the state would receive invitations to participate in the discussion.

“Tamil Nadu is being compelled into a significant struggle for its rights. We have invited all 40 political parties registered with the Election Commission of India to deliberate on this vital issue,” CM Stalin stated.

He cautioned that if delimitation is conducted solely on the basis of population, Tamil Nadu could potentially lose up to eight Lok Sabha seats, diminishing its representation from 39 to 31 MPs. Even with an increase in the overall number of MPs nationwide, Tamil Nadu could still face disadvantages due to proportional redistribution, he warned.

CM Stalin underscored that this issue transcends mere numbers; it pertains to Tamil Nadu’s fundamental rights. “As a state that has excelled in development indices and effective population control measures, we should not be penalized. If this delimitation exercise is unfairly implemented, it could undermine Tamil Nadu’s voice in Parliament,” he articulated.

Labeling delimitation as the “Sword of Damocles” looming over Southern states, CM Stalin accentuated that it could disproportionately affect states that have efficiently implemented population control policies. “As an initial step, we are organizing this meeting to unite all political parties and leaders of Tamil Nadu. I urge all parties to set aside their differences, attend the meeting, and share their perspectives on this critical issue,” he added.