DMK Members Walk Out Of Lok Sabha Over Delimitation

DMK members on Tuesday walked out of the Lok Sabha claiming they were not allowed to raise the issue of delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies in the Lower House.

As soon as the House met, DMK members were on their feet trying to raise the issue of delimitation during Question Hour. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said he would allow them to speak after the Question Hour.

"The issue does not arise now. There has been no census," Birla said, as the DMK members persisted with their demand. The DMK MPs then walked out of the Lok Sabha. "We were not given time to raise the issue (of delimitation).

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has called the state leaders affected by delimitation. The government has not responded to the concerns raised by Tamil Nadu. We are not being allowed to raise this issue. We want clarity from the government on this issue," DMK leader K Kanimozhi told reporters on the Parliament premises.

TMC, DMK press for short duration discussion on duplicate voter ID, delimitation in RS

The Trinamool Congress and the DMK on Tuesday pressed for short duration discussions in the Rajya Sabha on the issues of duplicate voter ID card numbers and the fallout of a delimitation exercise on southern states.

With the chair rejecting notices under rule 267, which calls for setting aside the business of the day to discuss a matter, the opposition parties said the issue should be discussed under rule 176. TMC's Derek O'Brien said there was a broad consensus that there should be a short duration discussion on the issue of duplication of voter ID card numbers.

"It is not anyone's intention to disrupt this House. We want the House to run... Kind consideration short duration discussion on this issue," he said, raising the issue of alleged lapses on part of the Election Commission in issuing duplicate voter ID card numbers. Tiruchi Siva of the DMK said the concerns of southern states over use of population as the measure of delimitation of constituencies should also be taken up in a short duration discussion. Rejecting two notices served under rule 267, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said these "issues can easily, effectively and impactfully be raised during the listed business during the course of the session".

He termed the TMC leader's observations of no one wanting to disrupt proceedings very soothing. If the House is in order, productivity goes up and expectations of the people are fulfilled, Dhankhar said. "Deliberations in accordance with rules go a long way in helping the government also. And making people aware of the ground reality," he said.

Dhankhar went on to state that he would discuss with leaders of different political parties the issue of short duration discussions "and come back to the House at the earliest".