Delimitation divide: How will states be affected, and who stands to gain more?

A special session of Parliament is set to discuss the proposed delimitation exercise and the women's reservation quota. The plan aims to increase Lok Sabha seats by nearly 50 per cent based on the 2011 census data.

The move has sparked significant outrage among political parties in southern states, particularly in Tamil Nadu. Regional leaders argue that the delimitation process unfairly penalises southern states for successfully controlling their population growth, while northern states stand to gain a substantial increase in parliamentary representation. The central government maintains that the exercise is essential for implementing women's reservation and ensuring balanced representation.

Meanwhile, the political climate in Tamil Nadu is intensifying ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. A fierce war of words has erupted between the ruling party and the primary opposition party. The opposition leader defended himself against accusations of launching personal attacks on the Chief Minister and his family, claiming his criticisms were strictly political. The ongoing clashes highlight the high stakes in the final leg of the state election campaign.