Madurai, August 9, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Tamil Nadu Minister Nirmal Kumar has opposed the Centre’s proposed delimitation exercise, warning that any reduction in the state’s parliamentary representation would undermine its political interests. He also accused the DMK of being prepared to indirectly support the BJP on the issue.
Speaking to reporters after taking part in a marathon organised as part of an initiative to make Madurai a garbage-free city, Kumar called on all political parties in Tamil Nadu to unite against any delimitation formula that could reduce the state’s representation based on population.
The minister alleged that the Union government was pursuing delimitation for political reasons despite there being no immediate need for the exercise. He said Tamil Nadu’s success in population control could work against the state if parliamentary seats were redistributed solely according to population.
According to Kumar, such a formula could weaken Tamil Nadu’s political voice and marginalise sections of its population. He said protecting the state’s constitutional and political interests should take precedence over differences among political parties.
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Kumar, however, turned his criticism particularly towards the DMK, alleging that the party had reached an understanding with the BJP on the delimitation issue.
He claimed there were reports that DMK MPs might walk out of Parliament when the delimitation proposal comes up for consideration instead of voting against it. Kumar, a minister from the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), argued that avoiding a vote against the proposal would effectively amount to helping it pass.
Recalling the DMK’s earlier opposition to delimitation, Kumar said the party had presented itself as a strong defender of Tamil Nadu’s parliamentary representation. If the party remained opposed to the proposed exercise, he said, its MPs should stay in Parliament and vote against it rather than stage a walkout.
Kumar described a possible walkout as a betrayal of Tamil Nadu and other states that fear losing parliamentary representation under a population-based redistribution of seats.
He further alleged that the DMK leadership was compromising the broader interests of Tamil Nadu to protect the political interests of former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s family. He claimed the party’s conduct in and out of government showed a willingness to accommodate the BJP at the expense of the state’s interests.
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