Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has taken a firm stand against the central government’s policies on delimitation and the imposition of the Hindi language, emphasizing the need for assurance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on conducting delimitation based on the 1971 census. At an all-party meeting convened in Tamil Nadu, Stalin highlighted how the state’s successful family planning initiatives and the empowerment of women might inadvertently lead to a reduction in its parliamentary seats if a more recent census were to be used for delimitation purposes.
Further cementing his opposition to central policies, Stalin has also voiced strong objections to the three-language policy proposed in the New Education Policy, framing it as an imposition of Hindi. He called upon citizens of Tamil Nadu to stand united against these measures, arguing that they threaten the state’s autonomy and cultural identity. The Chief Minister’s comments have sparked a renewed debate on federalism, language politics, and the principles of representation in India.
While the issue of delimitation touches upon the sensitive topic of electoral representation and the effective voice of states in the Indian Parliament, the opposition to the three-language policy speaks to a broader concern over cultural hegemony and linguistic diversity. These positions signal a critical moment of contestation between the Tamil Nadu state government and the central government, raising questions about the balance of power, regional autonomy, and the respect for linguistic plurality in the country.
The combined opposition to these policies by Stalin and the all-party meeting seeks to galvanize public support and draw attention to the potential implications for Tamil Nadu. The demand for basing delimitation on the 1971 census specifically aims to protect the state’s parliamentary representation by acknowledging its population control achievements without penalizing it in terms of political representation. This appeal to the Prime Minister for assurance reflects the state’s desire for a negotiated resolution that respects its demographic successes and cultural preferences.
