Tamil Nadu passes resolution against delimitation

The Tamil Nadu legislative assembly recently voted in favor of a resolution urging the central government to freeze the number of Lok Sabha seats at 543 and ensure a 33% reservation for women in legislative bodies. This move comes as the government attempts to fast-track the constitutional amendment bill, currently stalled in Parliament, by separating it from the annual census and subsequent delimitation process.

The resolution was supported by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, as well as the main opposition party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and several allies, including left-wing parties and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK). However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), and the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) opposed the resolution.

In April 2026, the Union government introduced the 131st Amendment to the Constitution, which aimed to remove the 50-year freeze on delimitation and expand the number of Lok Sabha members from 550 to 850. However, the bill failed to gain enough support due to a lack of clarity regarding the delimitation procedure. If the government were to revise the bill to include the specific details of the delimitation process, opposition to the delimitation exercise could diminish.

Vijay expressed concern that if the amendment bill was reintroduced, it could negatively impact the parliamentary representation of southern states like Tamil Nadu, which have managed to maintain stable population growth. The opposition parties argued that the current freeze on delimitation, in place since 1971, should be extended by another 25 years to prevent any adverse effects on Tamil Nadu.

The AIADMK, however, dismissed the resolution, stating that it was brought forward by the TVK government for political reasons and that they only supported the women's reservation resolution.