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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 13, urging the Union government to permanently freeze the Lok Sabha’s strength at 543 and retain the existing distribution of seats among states and Union Territories.
In his letter, the Chief Minister pointed out the resolution adopted by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on August 12, which called for constitutional amendments to preserve the existing level of representation for states.
“The existing number of Lok Sabha seats allocated to the states should be made permanent at the current level. Current distribution of seats among the states must be maintained. I kindly request you to consider the resolution passed by Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and bring necessary Constitutional amendments in this regard,” Vijay said in his letter.
The Assembly resolution also sought the implementation of 33% reservation for women in the 2029 Lok Sabha without changing the existing strength of 543.
According to the resolution, the southern states could lose a significant number of parliamentary seats after population census if Article 81(2)(a) is applied. The Assembly cited the 1967 delimitation, when Tamil Nadu's Lok Sabha representation was reduced from 41 seats to 39.
Vijay said any delimitation based on the post-1971 population that changes the existing strength of the states would cause “lasting injustice” to the southern states.
He pointed out that these states had implemented population-control programmes and achieved economic growth while also carrying out healthcare and public welfare measures.
The resolution was backed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the TVK’s coalition partners, while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Desiya Murupokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) opposed it.