First JAC meet on Delimitation begins under Stalin; BJP calls it "corruption-hiding meeting"
Chennai (PTI): The first Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting on delimitation commenced here on Saturday with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin in the chair.
The meeting saw the participation of 14 leaders from at least five states and they would deliberate on the 'threat' posed by the Lok Sabha seats delimitation exercise to states with high economic growth and literacy.
The opposition BJP, which staged a black flag protest, slammed Stalin for not convening similar meetings on the Cauvery and Mullaiperiar water-sharing disputes with Karnataka and Kerala, respectively. BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan described the meeting as "corruption hiding meeting" by the respective leaders.
Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar said, "at any cost, we cannot let down our country and our seats to be reduced."
He claimed South India had always upheld the census regulations and family planning policies, making it a progressive region. "Economically and in terms of literacy, we have consistently led the way. We have always protected the national interest, not just our own," he said upon his arrival here.
BJP national spokesperson C.R. Kesavan said on the meeting that the DMK was staging the delimitation drama "as a divisionary tactic to deflect public attention away from DMK's corrupt, failed, disastrous misrule."
"DMK's divisive politics of fear mongering, attempting to mislead and misinform people will badly boomerang back on the DMK. Rahul Gandhi and Congress, with their mutually conflicting and contradicting stand on delimitation, are indulging in a very pathetic politics of opportunism which is utterly condemnable," Kesavan said.
Former Telangana Governor and senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan said the black flag protest was to safeguard the interests of people of Tamil Nadu.
She asked Stalin if he held any meetings to solve the Cauvery problem and Mullaperiyar dam issue with the Karnataka and Kerala leaders.
"So, delimitation has not been announced, and not a single word has been uttered by the central government...Home Minister Amit Shah came to Coimbatore. He had clarified that Tamil Nadu will not be affected. The Home Minister has clarified it, so on what basis are you conducting this meeting," She asked the ruling DMK chief.
This meeting was being held "to hide the corruption charges, to divide the people of the country."
"The concerned CMs who are attending the meeting are doing so to hide the misgoverance in the concerned states. There are so many corruption charges in Telangana, Kerala. Their own people will be against their CMs attending this event," she claimed while speaking to PTI Videos.
"Instead of calling this a delimitation meeting, it can be called corruption hiding meeting," she added.
Earlier, Chief Ministers of Kerala, Telangana, and Punjab--Pinarayi Vijayan, Revanth Reddy, Bhagwant Singh Mann, and working president of Shiromani Akali Dal Balwinder Singh Bhunder, and general secretary of Indian Union Muslim League Kerala P M A Salam, were among the leaders who had arrived in Chennai to take part in the meeting.
Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal and Punjab are the seven states the DMK has reached out to for the meeting.
"A historic day for Indian federalism,!" Stalin had said on the eve of the meeting.
Describing the DMK-led all-party meeting as a "landmark moment," in which as many as 58 parties participated by putting aside difference for a single cause, the chief minister had said, "this overwhelming consensus reflected Tamil Nadu’s unwavering commitment" to democracy and justice.
Further, the CM said: "Building on this historic unity, our MPs and Ministers actively engaged with leaders from other affected states, strengthening our collective resolve. What started as Tamil Nadu’s initiative has now grown into a national movement, with states across India joining hands to demand fair representation. This is a defining moment in our collective journey. This is more than a meeting—it is the beginning of a movement that will shape the future of our country. Together, we will achieve #FairDelimitation."
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Minister Madhu Bangarappa invites JDS MLA to join Congress during public event
Shivamogga: Shivamogga District In-charge Minister Madhu Bangarappa performed a Gudali Puja on Sunday for the development of Barehalla and Hi Hole Dams in the taluk, along with road development work in Puradalu village.
At the program, Madhu Bangarappa extended an invitation to JDS MLA Sharada Pooryanayaka to join the Congress party, using an English proverb to make his point.
"Sharada Pooryanayaka loves me very much. But when elections come, it becomes very difficult. Now we have power. That is why I am calling her to join our party. Our father always said that when it is hot, we should dry the grass. Now that it is hot, my sister should make a decision," he said, extending an open offer to the JDS leader.
Bangarappa emphasized that providing facilities for the Sharavati flood victims is the government's duty. He noted that the dam built for these victims in Puradalu village was damaged due to excessive rainfall. To address this, he announced the launch of development work worth Rs. 3 crore, fulfilling his previous promises.
He stated that while the government is allocating funds for guaranteed schemes, it is also ensuring grants for developmental projects. "As a minister, I am responsible for providing quality education to children. I am working with great emphasis on education. Since the education department is vast, everyone is cooperating," he said.
The minister urged parents to ensure their children's education is not disrupted due to frequent holidays. He also mentioned that a facial attendance system is being considered to monitor school attendance more effectively.
Instead of focusing on building large temples in villages, he stressed the importance of constructing bigger schools, stating that "If schools are built big, God will bless them."
MLA Sharada Pooryanayaka stated that priority is being given to the development of villages in the Sharavati floodplain area. She also acknowledged the efforts of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and thanked District In-charge Minister Madhu Bangarappa for securing funds for the Barehalla and Hi Hole Dam development.
Puradalu Gram Panchayat Vice President H.S. Pradeep delivered the introductory remarks.
The event was attended by Congress District President R. Prasanna Kumar, State Bhovi Development Corporation President S. Ravikumar, Guarantee Schemes Authority District President Chandrabhupal, and Congress leaders Kalgodu Ratnakar, G.D. Manjunath, Dr. Srinivas Karianna, Y.H. Nagaraj, as well as Puradalu and Agasavalli Gram Panchayat Presidents and members.
