At the India Today Roundtable in Chennai, the proposed delimitation of Lok Sabha seats triggered a sharp clash over the future of South India’s political influence, with Opposition leaders warning that a population-based formula would punish the state for successfully controlling population growth. The BJP countered, arguing that the South would not be disadvantaged. MDMK leader Durai Vaiko, Congress leader Praveen Chakravarthy and DMK representative Salem Dharanidharan questioned the fairness of linking representation solely to population, citing Tamil Nadu’s contribution to the national economy and its success in family planning. BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan, however, defended the Centre’s approach, saying the proposed expansion of Parliament would ensure that southern states retain their political weight while also enabling women’s reservation.
