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Tamil Nadu CM C Joseph Vijay urged PM Modi to fix Lok Sabha strength at 543, retain current state-wise seat allocation and ensure 33% women’s reservation in upcoming polls.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister highlighted the concerns of the southern states with regards to the delimitation process. There is a widespread believe in the south that delimitation of seats in Lok Sabha would punish them for their commendable track record of controlling population. (image source: X/ @wordsbysiva)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring Constitutional amendments to permanently fix the strength of the Lok Sabha at 543 members, amid concerns over the proposed delimitation of parliamentary constituencies.
In a letter to Modi on Thursday, Vijay referred to a resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly a day earlier on the proposed delimitation of parliamentary and Assembly constituencies. He also highlighted the state legislature’s demand for 33% reservation for women in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and the subsequent Assembly polls.
Vijay said the resolution called for the existing distribution of Lok Sabha seats among states to remain unchanged.
Southern States’ Delimitation Concerns
Quoting the Assembly resolution, Vijay said the “total number of members of the House of the People (Lok Sabha) should be made permanent at 543.”
He also sought that the number of Lok Sabha seats allocated to each state remain at their current levels.
“I enclose a copy of the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. I kindly request you to consider the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and bring in the necessary Constitutional amendments in this regard,” Vijay wrote.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly had on Wednesday raised concerns that southern states could lose Lok Sabha seats after the Census if Article 81(2)(a), which deals with the allocation of seats, is applied.
The resolution pointed to a similar reduction in Tamil Nadu’s representation in 1967, when the state’s Lok Sabha seats fell from 41 to 39.
It argued that any delimitation based on post-1971 population figures that changes the existing distribution of seats could cause lasting injustice to southern states. The resolution noted that these states had implemented population-control measures while also making progress in economic development, healthcare and public welfare.
Three Key Changes Sought
The Assembly also called for one-third reservation for women in the next Lok Sabha elections and the Assembly elections that follow.
In his letter, Vijay therefore sought three measures from the Centre: a Constitutional amendment to fix the Lok Sabha’s strength at 543, retaining the existing state-wise distribution of seats, and implementing 33% reservation for women in the upcoming Lok Sabha and subsequent Assembly elections.
The demands come amid the wider political debate over delimitation and its potential impact on the parliamentary representation of states.
August 14, 2026, 12:19 IST
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