New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay on Thursday called upon the Union Government to guarantee that southern states will not lose their share of parliamentary representation following the proposed Delimitation Bill, 2026. Speaking at the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting in Chengalpattu, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Vijay emphasized that states should not face reduced political influence as an unintended penalty for their success in population stabilization and human development over recent decades.
Addressing regional concerns as the long-standing freeze on Lok Sabha seat allocations based on the 1971 Census nears its expiration, the Chief Minister urged the Centre to provide a formal legislative assurance. He underscored that protecting each state’s proportional voice in Parliament is essential to maintaining federal balance, democratic equity, and trust among diverse regions across the country.
Beyond parliamentary reapportionment, Vijay raised the state’s persistent opposition to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). He argued that the centralized examination disadvantages rural and marginalized students, requesting that the Centre permit Tamil Nadu to allocate state-quota medical, dental, and AYUSH seats based directly on Class XII academic performance.
The Chief Minister also addressed the ongoing Cauvery water disputes, calling for the strict implementation of Supreme Court directives and Cauvery Water Management Authority orders to protect the rights of lower riparian states. Additionally, he advocated for tighter federal regulations governing online prescription drug sales and enhanced interstate coordination to combat youth substance abuse.
