Using only population figure as benchmark for delimitation exercise will do injustice to T.N., says DMK MP

DMK MP D.M. Kathir Anand speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Budget session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Wednesday, March 12, 2025

The impending delimitation exercise penalises progressive States like Tamil Nadu, which have controlled population growth and therefore, the Union government should ensure equitable representation of all States in Parliament and State Assemblies, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) member D.M. Kathir Anand said on Wednesday (March 12, 2025) in the Lok Sabha.

“The government should consider economic performance and vital indices such as GSDP, per capita income, infrastructure improvement and not just population while doing the delimitation exercise,” Mr. Anand said, raising the issue during Zero Hour.

The DMK MP also said Tamil Nadu’s population had been significantly lower compared to north Indian States and this would bring down the number of Lok Sabha seats from the State.

Insisting on population figures for delimitation was total injustice to Tamil Nadu and the Union government had not given any assurance on the State having proportionate representation, Mr. Anand added.

BJP’s Nishikant Dubey raised the issue of Bangladeshi infiltrators entering India through the borders of the State of West Bengal, and said the Centre should exclude them when conducting delimitation.

Mr. Dubey said the population of Adivasis (tribals) in Jharkhand had reduced in the 2011 census, as compared to 1951 census, but Muslim population had increased substantially.

“The Bangladeshi infiltrators are forcibly marrying the Adivasi girls in Jharkhand and converting them. I urge the government that when they conduct the delimitation exercise, they should exclude the Bangladeshi infiltrators,” he said.