Did CM Vijay 'dilute' Tamil Nadu's delimitation stand? TVK, DMK clash in assembly

Political tensions escalated in the Tamil Nadu assembly on Friday as the ruling TVK and opposition DMK sparred over the state's official position on the upcoming delimitation exercise. Chief Minister C Vijay allegedly omitted the term "freeze" while discussing the number of Lok Sabha seats during a Zonal Council meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The DMK's TVK MLA, Udhayanidhi, accused the TVK-led government of diluting Tamil Nadu's demand for a frozen Lok Sabha seat count at 543. TVK MLA CTR Nirmal Kumar defended the government, stating that the agenda of the Southern Zonal Council meeting focused on broader issues for all southern states. DMK minister Adhavan Arjunan reaffirmed the government's unwavering stance on the delimitation matter.

The debate saw both parties accusing each other of compromising Tamil Nadu's interests, with Udhayanidhi alleging that the DMK had shifted its position in the past. TVK countered that the DMK had previously not insisted on the 543-seat cap and challenged DMK MPs not to walk out of Parliament if the BJP-led Centre introduces the Delimitation Bill.

TVK acknowledged that the DMK had played a significant role in preventing the Delimitation Bill from becoming law, but urged DMK to unite with their party on the issue of state rights.