Chennai, April 15 (IANS) Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay on Wednesday voiced strong concerns over the Centre’s proposed Constitutional amendment aimed at restructuring parliamentary representation, warning that it could significantly disadvantage southern states, particularly Tamil Nadu.

In a statement, Vijay referred to the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from the current 543 members to 850, and is expected to be taken up for discussion in the special session of the Parliament commencing on Thursday.

While welcoming the long-pending legislation to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in the Parliament, he cautioned against prioritising the delimitation-linked amendment over the women’s quota Bill.

He stated that if the amendment is passed without adequate safeguards, it could widen the proportional gap in representation between northern and southern states.

According to Vijay, such a shift would result in reduced parliamentary representation for southern states that have effectively implemented population control measures, while increasing the influence of more populous northern states.

This, he argued, could have far-reaching consequences on policymaking, legislative priorities, and the balance of federal power.

He further warned that issues related to language, culture, and state rights may receive diminished attention in the Parliament if southern voices are weakened.

“The concerns and aspirations of people in states like Tamil Nadu may no longer be adequately heard,” he said, describing the move as potentially discriminatory.

Vijay also alleged that the proposed changes could impact the allocation of central funds. A shift in parliamentary seat distribution, he noted, might alter the basis on which financial resources are shared between states, potentially leading to reduced allocations for states like Tamil Nadu.

Highlighting existing grievances, he pointed out that the Tamil Nadu government has already raised concerns about inadequate central funding and limited project allocations during Union budget presentations.

In such a context, he warned, a population-based redistribution following delimitation could further reduce financial support.

Urging the Centre to reconsider its approach, Vijay called for the continuation of the existing system and appealed for the proposed amendment to be withdrawn. He stressed that states which have followed national policies should not be “penalised”, while others are “rewarded”, underscoring the need for a more balanced and equitable framework.

–IANS

aal/vd