The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution against the proposed delimitation exercise, reported ANI.

The process of fixing the boundaries of electoral constituencies is called delimitation.

Backed by the Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam-led state government also urged the Union government to permanently retain the number of Lok Sabha seats at 543.

During a three-day special session of Parliament in April, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government introduced the 2026 Constitution 131st Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha to amend the 2023 Women’s Reservation Act and redraw the boundaries of electoral constituencies.

The bill, one of the three draft legislations that were introduced, required a two-thirds majority of votes in Parliament to pass. The ruling National Democratic Alliance does not have a two-thirds majority of MPs in any House. Therefore, it required the support of Opposition parties to pass the amendment.

The consideration of the bill was rejected by the Lok Sabha with 298 MPs voting in its favour and 230 against.

Before the Monsoon Session of Parliament began on July 20, Union minister Ramdas Athawale was quoted as saying by PTI that the delimitation bill would be passed in the House.

However, amid a deadlock in Parliament about the police using excessive force against youth protesters in Delhi, the bill has not been listed. The Monsoon Session of Parliament will conclude on Thursday.

On Wednesday, while introducing the resolution in Tamil Nadu Assembly, Chief Minister Vijay said that the 33% reservation for women should be implemented in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections based on the current 543 seats, reported ANI.

Women’s reservation should not be viewed as a concession, but as a matter of social justice and equal representation, he added.

Extending support for the resolution, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Udhayanidhi Stalin said that delimitation “should not be carried out for the next 25 years”.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam opposed the TVK’s move.

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said that the Vijay government had brought the resolution “for political reasons and to create unnecessary excitement over the issue”.

“There is nothing wrong with delimiting Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies based on population and geographical area in the interest of administrative convenience,” ANI quoted Palaniswami as saying.

However, he urged the Union government to ensure that the exercise does not disadvantage Tamil Nadu or reduce the state’s representation in Parliament below the existing 7.18% share.

The AIADMK is a member of the NDA.

*Edited by Sneha. *

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