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'CM Vijay told Amit Shah that existing freeze on LS seats should continue': TN minister clarifies stance on delimitation
Aadhav Arjuna asserted that the state government remained firm on its (Assembly) resolution to freeze the number of parliamentary seats at 543.
The Tamil Nadu government wanted the existing freeze capping Lok Sabha seats at 543 nationally and 39 in the state, and not fair delimitation, Minister Aadhav Arjuna said on Friday.
Responding to the concerns raised by the opposition party members on the parliamentary constituency delimitation, Arjuna told the Assembly that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had on Thursday conveyed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the existing freeze capping Lok Sabha seats at 543 nationally and 39 in the state should continue.
The Public Works Minister asserted that the state government remained firm on its (Assembly) resolution to freeze the number of parliamentary seats at 543.
Also read: DMK rejects Vijay’s free cars for 59 MLAs, Udhayanidhi Stalin says ‘government in debt’
Endorsing him, Energy Resources and Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar said he had clarified the government's stance immediately after contradictory views were highlighted in the media on August 20 in the midst of the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting at Kovalam near here.
Raising the issue, AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami said the Centre does not pass a new law to extend the freeze. The next population census could lead to a reduction in Tamil Nadu's parliamentary representation below 39, he said and questioned the state government's stand on the subject.
Later, Speaker J C D Prabhakar clarified that media reports cannot be used as primary evidence for debates in the House, reaffirming that the state's position remained focused on the previously passed Assembly resolution.
Leader of the Opposition DMK Udhayanidhi Stalin recalling the Assembly resolution on delimitation on August 12, urged the Union government to permanently fix the strength of Lok Sabha seats at 543, but Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had not used the word "freeze" while speaking on the issue at the council meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
PMK MLA A Ganeshkumar asserted his party's commitment to protecting the state's rights and emphasised that the PMK opposed delimitation based on population, arguing it would unfairly reduce Tamil Nadu's representation in the Lok Sabha.
Minister Vanni Arasu claimed that while Amit Shah argued the share of seats for southern states would increase, the actual bill contained different provisions.
