Delimitation protests disrupt Parliament sessions in India

Protests over the delimitation issue disrupted proceedings in both houses of Parliament on Thursday. Members of the DMK party protested against plans to redraw electoral boundaries. They claim this could lead to a reduction in the number of Lok Sabha seats for southern states if based on population data. DMK lawmakers wore T-shirts with messages opposing the delimitation exercise. This led to multiple adjournments as Parliament leaders expressed strong objections. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar called for a meeting with floor leaders to address the situation. Although he did not specify the issue at hand, it was clear that the DMK's attire was a point of contention. During discussions, some lawmakers argued that if rules about attire exist, they should apply equally to members of all parties. The DMK's shirts bore the slogan "Delimitation — Tamil Nadu will fight, Tamil Nadu will win." Other members used stoles with slogans related to recent controversial remarks surrounding education policies. In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla criticized the DMK MPs for their attire, deeming it unacceptable under parliamentary rules. He referenced Rule 349, which calls for decorum in the House, and asked the protesting members to leave and return dressed appropriately. As debates continued with no resolution, both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha were adjourned. Outside Parliament, DMK MP K Kanimozhi stressed the importance of fair delimitation and called on the central government for clarification on the issue. She stated that the party’s leader, Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister MK Stalin, has raised concerns about the impact of delimitation on states that control their populations.