HYDERABAD: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has strongly criticized the central government’s proposed delimitation exercise, calling it a direct attack on the political significance of southern states. He stated that this is not mere “delimitation” but a deliberate attempt to limit the influence of the South.
Revanth Reddy affirmed that a strategy will be devised to counter the BJP-led central government’s alleged conspiracy against southern states. He accepted Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin’s invitation to a crucial meeting on March 22 in Chennai, where chief ministers and leaders from multiple states will discuss the potential damage caused by the proposed delimitation.
A delegation from the DMK, led by Tamil Nadu Minister K.N. Nehru, met Revanth Reddy in Delhi and handed over Stalin’s official invitation. The Tamil Nadu CM highlighted in his letter that while existing laws restrict delimitation until after the 2026 Census, the BJP government is prematurely pushing this agenda to curtail the South’s political representation. Stalin also revealed that Tamil Nadu has already held an all-party meeting on this issue.
The letter further urged Telangana to join a united front comprising Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Odisha, and Punjab. Stalin requested the Telangana Congress to nominate a representative to the Joint Action Plan (JAP) committee formed to combat this move.
The DMK delegation, which included senior leaders such as A. Raja, Kanimozhi, and N.R. Elango, held discussions with Revanth Reddy following their meeting. Addressing the media afterward, Revanth Reddy reiterated that Telangana and other southern states have significantly contributed to the nation’s progress and will not allow their political and economic interests to be undermined.
Revanth Reddy accused the BJP of seeking revenge on the South for its electoral failures in the region. He declared that the Congress has already decided to resist this attempt and would take a firm stand in the upcoming Chennai meeting.
The Telangana CM also announced plans to hold a similar all-party meeting in the state to discuss the impact of delimitation. He instructed Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and former minister Jana Reddy to invite all political parties for this discussion.
Revanth Reddy extended a special invitation to BJP state president and Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy to participate in the meeting and convey Telangana’s stance to the central cabinet. He emphasized that Kishan Reddy, as a Union Minister from Telangana, has a responsibility to protect the state’s interests.
Revanth Reddy urged all political parties, cutting across ideological differences, to unite for the protection of southern states’ rights. He confirmed that the March 22 meeting in Chennai will outline a strategic plan to counteract the potential negative impacts of delimitation.
