Punjab CM Questions BJP's Delimitation Strategy After Attending JAC Meeting
The resolution also urged the central government not to "penalize" states that had successfully implemented population control programs.
Chennai: Following his participation in the first Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting on Delimitation, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann raised concerns over the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) approach to seat reductions in states where they have less political influence. Speaking to the media, CM Mann questioned whether South India was being unfairly penalized due to successful population control measures in the region. “They (BJP) are reducing seats where they don’t win. Is South India being punished for population control?” he remarked.
CM Mann further stated that Punjab would participate in any future meetings related to the delimitation process, including one scheduled for Hyderabad, saying, “Wherever we are called, we will go.”
JAC Expresses Concern Over Lack of Transparency in Delimitation Process
The Joint Action Committee, convened by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, passed a resolution on the issue of delimitation. The resolution expressed concerns over the "lack of transparency and clarity" from the Union government regarding the exercise. The JAC unanimously called for greater transparency in any future delimitation process and urged that the freeze on parliamentary constituencies, based on the 1971 Census population, be extended for another 25 years.
The resolution emphasized that any delimitation exercise carried out by the Union Government should be conducted transparently, with input and deliberation from political parties, state governments, and other stakeholders to ensure its fairness and effectiveness.
JAC’s Call for Fair Treatment of States with Population Control Programs
The resolution also urged the central government not to "penalize" states that had successfully implemented population control programs. The JAC members argued that these states, which have seen a decrease in population share, should not be disadvantaged in the delimitation process. To address this, the JAC demanded constitutional amendments to prevent such penalties.
MPs to Counter Any Unfair Delimitation Efforts
The committee also resolved that Members of Parliament (MPs) from the represented states would coordinate efforts to counter any attempts by the Union Government to carry out a delimitation exercise contrary to the principles outlined in the resolution. The Core Committee of MPs will submit a joint representation to the Prime Minister of India during the ongoing Parliamentary session to highlight these concerns.
The JAC Meeting
The first meeting of the Joint Action Committee was convened by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in Chennai. It was attended by several prominent political figures, including Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Odisha Congress President Bhakta Charan Das, and Biju Janata Dal leader Sanjay Kumar Das Burma, among others.