In a significant political development, leaders from various southern and eastern Indian states gathered in Chennai on Saturday for the first Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting on “Fair Delimitation”, hosted by the Tamil Nadu government. The initiative, led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, aims to build consensus against the upcoming 2026 delimitation process, which critics argue could unfairly reduce the parliamentary representation of progressive states.
The meeting was attended by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, and senior representatives from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). Former Rajya Sabha MP Amar Patnaik and former minister Sanjay Das Burma represented the BJD, while BRS’s working president K T Rama Rao led their delegation.
West Bengal’s ruling party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), was invited but chose not to send a representative. Andhra Pradesh, ruled by BJP ally Chandrababu Naidu, also abstained.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Stalin called the event “a historic day for Indian federalism,” stressing that states that have successfully controlled population growth and contributed to national development must not be penalised by a skewed delimitation policy.
The meeting’s agenda included demands to extend the current delimitation framework based on the 1971 Census for 30 more years beyond 2026, drafting resolutions against the proposed changes, exploring constitutional and legal remedies, and launching public awareness campaigns across concerned states.
“There is a deliberate attempt to silence our voices in Parliament,” Stalin said. “Fair delimitation is about our states’ rights, not just numbers.”
Leaders from attending states echoed this sentiment. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy framed the issue as one of federal equity, while Karnataka’s Shivakumar called for a non-partisan national dialogue. Although the TMC was absent, it has also expressed concern over the potential impact of the changes.
This marks a rare moment of cross-regional unity on a policy-driven issue, separate from electoral alliances. The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government has taken the initiative forward since hosting an all-party meeting on March 5, where 58 political parties, excluding the BJP, pledged support for “fair delimitation.”
Although Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently assured that southern states would not lose any seats, the assurance was made at a public rally, not through an official parliamentary statement.
“This is not just a Tamil Nadu issue anymore,” Stalin said. “It is a national movement demanding fair representation and protection of federal values.”