TVK-DMK verbal clash in Tamil Nadu assembly

The Tamil Nadu assembly witnessed a sharp political face-off between the ruling TVK and opposition DMK on Friday, with the two parties clashing over the state's official stance on the upcoming delimitation exercise.

The exchange came after chief minister C Joseph Vijay, according to the DMK, omitted the term "freeze" while referring to the number of Lok Sabha seats (543) during Thursday's Zonal Council meeting chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah and attended by chief ministers of southern states.

"The TVK government passed a resolution in this House to freeze the total number of Lok Sabha seats at 543, but chief minister Vijay did not use the word 'freeze' at the Southern Zonal Council meeting," Udhayanidhi said, suggesting that the TVK-led government had "diluted" Tamil Nadu's demand.

Defending the government, TVK MLA CTR Nirmal Kumar replied that the agenda of the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting was specifically designed to address broader issues concerning all southern states.

Intervening in the debate, Tamil Nadu minister Adhav Arjuna asserted that the government's position remained "unwavering." "Our government has no change in stand with regard to delimitation," he maintained.

The exchange intensified as both sides traded charges of "compromising" Tamil Nadu's interests. Udhayanidhi reiterated that the DMK remained committed to a total freeze on the redrawing of constituencies or, at the very least, ensuring that Tamil Nadu's current 7.18% representation was not reduced.

Arjuna, however, hit back at the LoP, alleging that the DMK had "shifted" its position in the past. "If they ask only for fair delimitation, it would be a betrayal to Tamil Nadu," he remarked, claiming that the DMK had previously not insisted on the 543-seat cap. He also challenged Lok Sabha MPs of the MK Stalin-led party not to walk out of the House if the BJP-led Centre introduces the Delimitation Bill. "When the Bill comes up in Parliament, the DMK should not stage a walkout... All 39 MPs of the DMK should stay inside the House and register their opposition. If you boycott, that too will turn out to be favourable for the ruling party," he added.

However, Arjuna acknowledged that the DMK had also played a significant role in ensuring that the Delimitation Bill did not become law, prompting AIADMK leader and former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to seek clarification. "We have not forgotten that the DMK stood firm for state rights. We accept that the Delimitation Bill did not become law because the DMK opposed it. Just as we united for states' rights in the past, let us unite now as well," Arjuna said. Palaniswami then asked, "Delimitation is a law. Does TVK need its number of constituencies to be increased or decreased? Clarify that." Arjuna responded: "After the census, Vajpayee brought a special law to freeze the LS numbers. To bring that again, let your MPs, including yours, raise their voice; that is our request."