Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay is expected to move a resolution on delimitation and women’s reservation, a day after the state Assembly passed resolutions seeking the abolition of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).
According to reports, the proposed resolution urges the Centre to maintain the Lok Sabha’s existing strength at 543 seats and preserve the Lok Sabha-Rajya Sabha representation ratio at 2.2:1.
The resolution also calls for the immediate implementation of 33% reservation for women within the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats.
Vijay’s resolution on delimitation
The proposed resolution raises concerns over the impact of future delimitation on the parliamentary representation of southern states, particularly Tamil Nadu.
It argues that the population of states and Union Territories has not been counted through a fresh census for more than five decades. The resolution states that constituencies should be redrawn based on the 2011 Census and proposes increasing the combined number of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats from 550 to 850 through a constitutional amendment.
The Tamil Nadu government has also expressed concern that delimitation based on a post-1971 population census could reduce the political representation of southern states that implemented population-control measures.
The resolution argues that Tamil Nadu’s efforts to control population growth could leave the state and other southern states at a disadvantage if parliamentary representation is redistributed primarily on the basis of population.
Tamil Nadu’s concerns over Lok Sabha delimitation
The proposed resolution comes amid a wider debate over delimitation and the possible redistribution of Lok Sabha seats.
Tamil Nadu has consistently raised concerns that states that successfully implemented population-control policies could lose parliamentary representation compared with states that experienced higher population growth.
The proposed resolution seeks to address these concerns while also calling for the implementation of women’s reservation in the existing Lok Sabha structure.
Tamil Nadu Assembly passes resolutions against NEET
The development comes a day after the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed two resolutions, including one seeking the abolition of NEET.
The Vijay-led government argued that the examination had lost the confidence of students and was inconsistent with the state’s position on social justice and state rights.
Vijay said the examination system should be abolished, arguing that it no longer enjoys the trust of students across the country.
The Assembly also passed a resolution opposing the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill.
Both resolutions were passed amid a walkout by BJP members.
