Tamil Nadu to Seek 543 Lok Sabha Seats, Back Women's Reservation

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is preparing to introduce a resolution in the state assembly aimed at preserving the Lok Sabha's current strength of 543 seats and ensuring the immediate implementation of 33% women's reservation.

The move follows a recent bill in the Tamil Nadu assembly seeking the removal of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions. Stalin's proposed resolution urges the central government to maintain the Lok Sabha-Rajya Sabha ratio at 2.2:1 by keeping the total number of seats fixed at 543. It also calls for the prompt allocation of 33% of these seats to women representatives.

The state government's stance is rooted in concerns over potential delimitation exercises. The resolution highlights that population counts for many states, including Tamil Nadu, have not been updated for over 50 years. While the next census was expected in 2026, the state argues that any delimitation based on a census conducted after 1971 would disproportionately affect southern states like Tamil Nadu. These states have successfully implemented population control measures, and a new delimitation could reduce their parliamentary representation.

“

Even though Tamil Nadu has built a strong Tamil Nadu by effectively implementing population control measures on the basis of the 1971 population census, the representation of the southern states, including Tamil Nadu, in Parliament will be permanently affected. This is an undeniable truth.

"Even though Tamil Nadu has built a strong Tamil Nadu by effectively implementing population control measures on the basis of the 1971 population census, the representation of the southern states, including Tamil Nadu, in Parliament will be permanently affected. This is an undeniable truth," the resolution states, emphasizing the potential for diminished political voice for these states.

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu assembly passed two resolutions against the NEET exam, with Stalin calling for its abolition, citing it as detrimental to social justice and state rights. The assembly also passed a resolution against the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment (FCRA) Bill, with both resolutions being adopted amid a walkout by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.

“

This examination has completely lost the trust of students across the nation. Therefore, this examination system must be abolished.