EPS accuses DMK of costing TN additional MP seats, failing women’s cause

CHENNAI: AIADMK general secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday alleged that the DMK government had deprived Tamil Nadu of an opportunity to increase its political representation in Parliament by opposing the delimitation proposal.

In a statement posted on X, he said Tamil Nadu had lost its “rightful share” of 20 additional Lok Sabha seats, which could have enhanced its political influence. He claimed that the opportunity, backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would have resulted in a 50 per cent increase in seats for the State.

Accusing Chief Minister M K Stalin of failing to grasp the implications, he said the DMK had “blindly opposed” the move. He argued that if delimitation had been carried out based on the 2011 Census, Tamil Nadu would have lost nine seats, but due to the State government’s opposition, the exercise would now be based on the 2026 Census, potentially leading to a greater loss.

Referring to the women’s reservation issue, he said that in 1998, former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had supported the Bill under the leadership of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, but it did not pass due to opposition from parties that are now part of the INDIA bloc. He alleged that the DMK, by opposing the recent Bill, had undermined that legacy and caused injustice to women across the country.

Questioning the State government, he asked what exactly it was celebrating, whether it was the “damage” caused to Tamil Nadu’s future or the loss of an opportunity to advance women’s empowerment.