Angul (Odisha) [India], March 29 (HBTV): Haryana Minister Krishan Lal Panwar on Sunday emphasized the importance of delimitation, stating that it will be ‘essential’ after 20 to 25 years. He also launched a scathing attack on the opposition, asserting that ‘regional parties are slowly finishing.’

Speaking about the Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting on delimitation, Panwar said, ‘Delimitation is a process. Delimitation is essential after 20-25 years. It happened in 2009... Now is the time after 2009. So, it will begin in 2026, and in 2029, Lok Sabha as well as Vidhan Sabha elections will be held in the country as per delimitation... Right before the Lok Sabha elections, they formed INDIA Alliance and said that they would stop the BJP. But PM Modi became the Prime Minister of the country for the third consecutive time. So, regional parties are slowly finishing.’

He further criticized opposition parties, stating, ‘Just like we formed our government for the third time in Haryana and removed the Kejriwal government in Delhi after 11 years, our government came to power in Maharashtra. So, wherever the elections are being held, regional parties are finishing, and BJP is marching ahead.’

Earlier on Saturday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin chaired the first Joint Action Committee meeting in Chennai over the proposed delimitation issue. The meeting was attended by Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, and other prominent leaders.

Following the meeting, a resolution was unanimously adopted, asserting that ‘any delimitation exercise carried out by the Centre should be done transparently and after discussion and deliberation with all stakeholders.’

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy announced plans for an all-party meeting to address the issue, emphasizing the need for southern states to maintain their political significance. Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin had written a letter arguing that delimitation should only occur after the next national census, scheduled for after 2026.

The meeting was attended by various political leaders, including Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Odisha Congress President Bhakta Charan Das, and Biju Janata Dal leader Sanjay Kumar Das Burma, among others.

The MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government has also clashed with the Centre over the three-language formula proposed in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the delimitation exercise.

(ANI)