Historic day for federalism; DMK's protest against Centre to be held today; Leaders of 'INDIA' alliance will participate

CHENNAI: The DMK will hold a protest meeting against the Lok Sabha constituency delimitation in Chennai today. Leaders of the 'INDIA' alliance from Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab and Bengal will participate. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who arrived in Chennai to attend the meeting, was received by DMK Deputy General Secretary K Kanimozhi MP, Minister Dr Palanivel Thiagarajan and Tamilachi Thangapandian MP. CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswam also arrived in Chennai. The protest meeting will be held at the ITC Hotel Hall in Guindy at 10 am.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin described today's protest as a 'historic day for federalism'.

"If the delimitation of constituencies is done based on the population of 2026, it will affect our representation in Parliament. That is why we are raising our voices first. The central government is now punishing states that have successfully controlled population growth. The central government will increase the Lok Sabha seats for Hindi-speaking states before the 2030 general elections," Stalin said in a video message.

Revanth Reddy arrives

Though there was confusion over sending Congress leaders to the event, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy arrived last night. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will also be there.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik have sent party representatives.

AICC delayed the decision, taking into account the possibility that the BJP would raise the campaign that the Congress is against North India, with the Bihar elections approaching.