Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to effect Constitutional amendments to ensure
that the strength of Lok Sabha members is made permanent at 543. Through his letter, Vijay wanted to drew PM Modi's attention to the resolution passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on August 12 on the proposed delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies as well as the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women. The Chief Minister said the resolution urges that the "total number of members of the House of the People (Lok Sabha) should be made permanent at 543". The number of Lok Sabha seats allocated to the states should be made permanent at the present level, which means the current distribution of seats among the states must be maintained, CM Vijay said in the letter, quoting the resolution. In addition to this, the Assembly resolution also urges the Union government to ensure that women get one-third reservation in the upcoming general elections to the Lok Sabha and the subsequent polls to the legislative Assemblies. "I enclose a copy of the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. I kindly request you to consider the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and bring in necessary Constitutional amendments in this regard," Vijay said. Earlier on August 12, it was deliberated in the Assembly that after the Census, the southern states may lose seats (if Article 81 (2)(a) covering the subject of allotment of seats was applied) as had happened in 1967 when the number of MP seats in Tamil Nadu was reduced from 41 to 39. Any delimitation based on post 1971 population that alters the existing strength would cause lasting injustice to the Southern States which have efficiently implemented the population control programmes, achieved good economic growth, carried out proper healthcare and public welfare schemes. (With agency inputs)
