Even as the Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay has convened a meeting of the state’s Members of Parliament on Saturday to discuss the centre’s proposed exercise for the delimitation of the constituencies, the DMK has demanded the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government for an all-party meeting on the issues of Cauvery water with Karnataka and Mekedatu dam on the Karnataka – Tamil Nadu border.
DMK general secretary Duraimurugan on Friday government not to resort to “diversionary politics” when the immediate priority was to express Tamil Nadu’s united stand on the sharing of Cauvery water and Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu dam project.
Reacting to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s decision to convene a meeting of the MPs to discuss delimitation, Mr Duraimurugan said the DMK’s stand was that delimitation should be carried out fairly without affecting Tamil Nadu’s representation in Parliament. He added that the party’s MPs would participate in the meeting and present the DMK’s views.
Refuting that there was any dilution in the DMK’s stand on delimitation since been ousted from power, Mr Duraimurugan said the DMK remained firmly committed to the stand adopted at the all-party meeting convened by the previous DMK government last year and that there had been no change or dilution in its position. He said no political party was qualified to advise the DMK on delimitation when even the Business Advisory Committee of Parliament had not indicated that a delimitation Bill would be introduced.
“It was the DMK and our leader M.K. Stalin who first alerted the nation to the dangers of an unfair delimitation exercise. We built opinion and consensus across the country, convened a Joint Action Committee of like-minded States and turned it into a national debate,” he said. He recalled that even at the height of the Assembly election campaign in Tamil Nadu, Mr Stalin had appealed to people to hoist black flags at their homes to protest against the proposed delimitation exercise, demonstrating that protecting Tamil Nadu’s rights had taken precedence even over the election campaign.
He said the DMK had no hesitation in participating in the MPs’ meeting on delimitation scheduled for August 8. “However, the Tamil Nadu government should also convene an all-party meeting on the Cauvery water-sharing issue and the proposed Mekedatu dam,” he demanded. Mr Duraimurugan alleged that the TVK government was maintaining a “studied silence” on the Mekedatu issue because it did not want to embarrass its new ally, the Congress, while simultaneously convening a meeting of MPs on delimitation.
“Tamil Nadu’s representation in Parliament should not be reduced through delimitation. If the State’s interests are at stake, our leader will be at the forefront of the struggle to protect them. But the immediate priority is to prevent the construction of the Mekedatu dam and safeguard Tamil Nadu’s rights over Cauvery water,” he added.
The Centre is learnt to have renewed its push for the Delimitation Bill and is holding consultations with Opposition parties, including the DMK, to revive the Delimitation Bill, 2026, along with the Women’s Reservation Amendment.
The leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Udhayanidhi Stalin and Chief Minister Vijay on Friday engaged in a heated exchange in the Assembly on the issue of Cauvery water and the Mekedatu dam.
Questioning the government’s stand on the Cauvery water issue and Karnataka’s move to build the Mekedatu dam, Udhayanidhi Stalin accused the Vijay government of not doing enough to stop the dam project in the neighbouring state. “The government must clarify in the Assembly what steps have been taken to stop Karnataka from going ahead with the Mekedatu dam,” Mr Stalin asked the Chief Minister.
Hitting back at the allegations, Chief Minister Vijay pointed out that the Assembly had passed a resolution against the Mekedatu dam and that he had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposing the project. “We will do whatever it takes to safeguard the interests of Tamil Nadu farmers,” the Chief Minister said.
Udhayanidhi Stalin then questioned the Vijay government’s resistance to an all-party meet on the Mekedatu issue, pointing to a united front being put up by Karnataka parties. “Karnataka convened an all-party meet. For their rights, they have united as a single team,” he said, referring to Karnataka’s stand. “Why is the TVK government rejecting the idea of an all-party meet to show unity for the Tamil cause on the Mekedatu issue?” the Leader of Opposition asked.