Amid growing tensions between the BJP-led Centre and Tamil Nadu over delimitation and the three-language formula, the RSS has clearly expressed its stance on the former while carefully sidestepping the latter.
RSS Joint General Secretary C R Mukunda addressed these issues at a press conference in Bengaluru on Friday during the three-day meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), the RSS라이브 바카라 highest decision-making body. Mukunda emphasized the importance of maintaining the share of southern states in Lok Sabha seats if a delimitation exercise leads to an increase in the number of parliamentary seats. This aligns with the position previously taken by the DMK earlier this month.
On the three language row, Mukunda advocated for the use of a person라이브 바카라 mother tongue, the regional language where the person resides, and a career language that could be English or another language.
Mukunda, however, expressed concern about “forces” that “are challenging national unity, especially by raising the North-South divide, whether it is about delimitation or languages”.
He added, “But other than this, there are many things that are mostly politically motivated, like having the rupee symbol in the local language. These things have to be addressed by social leaders and groups. It is not good for the country to quarrel among ourselves. It should be resolved harmoniously.”
The Delimitation Debate
The RSS spoke of maintaining the share of southern states in the Lok Sabha seats if a delimitation exercise increased the number of seats in Parliament.
“When it comes to delimitation, the central government, our Home minister (Shah)… I think he has told in Parliament also… and in Coimbatore… that it (delimitation) will be held based on the ratio. If some southern state is having some number of Lok Sabha seats in the 543 seats today, that ratio will be held as is if it (Lok Sabha) is expanded… The whole decision has to be taken by the central government. It is not for the RSS to say how many numbers or (speak of) ratio,” Mukunda said.
In February, at an event in Coimbatore, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that “after delimitation, on the basis of pro rata, not a single seat of any southern state will come down”.
Shah's comments came a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin highlighted the concerns of southern states regarding delimitation. These states fear that a delimitation based solely on population, to be carried out using the latest Census, would disadvantage them, as they have successfully managed their population growth compared to the North.
Following Shah's reassurance, the DMK passed a six-point resolution opposing the delimitation at an all-party meeting. The resolution called for extending the 1971 Census-based delimitation framework for another 30 years beyond 2026 and ensuring fair representation for states that have effectively controlled their population.
The resolution also stated that if delimitation were carried out and Lok Sabha seats were increased, the redistribution of seats should be based on the current proportions in the Lower House.
