Southern States Unite Against 2026 Delimitation Plan

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin is rallying opposition against the Indian government's proposed delimitation exercise, which he claims threatens the federal structure by reducing the political representation of states with successful population control measures. Stalin has invited Chief Ministers from Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, and Punjab to form a joint action committee to oppose the move, with a meeting scheduled for March 22 in Chennai. The proposal to base parliamentary seat allocation on recent census data could disproportionately favor northern states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, potentially diminishing seats for southern states like Tamil Nadu, which could lose up to eight seats. The Telangana government and political parties in Tamil Nadu have also expressed opposition, suggesting adherence to the 1971 Census data for future delimitation to maintain balance. Meanwhile, Stalin continues to oppose the National Education Policy's three-language formula, viewing it as an imposition of Hindi over non-Hindi speaking states.