Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has stated that the DMK will not oppose the Delimitation Bill to be introduced in Parliament, as it poses no threat to Tamil Nadu.
Chennai: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has expressed confidence that the DMK will certainly support the Delimitation Bill and the Women’s Reservation Bill, which are set to be introduced in Parliament.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, he said that the Union Government is determined to pass these key bills during the upcoming Parliament session. He added that since the delimitation exercise poses no threat to Tamil Nadu, the DMK would not oppose the legislation.
Athawale also claimed that the INDIA alliance has now fragmented. He stated that even if the DMK does not vote in favor of these bills, it would not stand by the Congress. Therefore, he believes the DMK may abstain from participating in the parliamentary vote.
Expressing concern over the rising number of crimes against Dalits in Tamil Nadu, Athawale cited official figures, stating that 2,888 crimes, including 88 murders, were reported against Dalits in 2025. He further noted that 44 murders had been recorded during the first six months of 2026. At the same time, he welcomed the fact that 8,352 inter-caste marriages had taken place over the past five years. He urged the Tamil Nadu Government to enact a separate law to prevent honour killings arising from parental opposition to such marriages.
He also said that the Central Government has been implementing several welfare schemes for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and requested that the government led by Chief Minister Vijay make full use of these schemes. Athawale added that he had personally met the Chief Minister to discuss the matter.
Commenting on the political situation in Tamil Nadu, Athawale said that he had expected Vijay to form an alliance with the AIADMK, given the lack of a clear majority to form a government. Instead, he criticized Vijay for aligning with smaller parties, suggesting that such a strategy would create political challenges. The Union Minister’s remarks have added significance to the ongoing debate over the Delimitation Bill and the evolving political landscape in Tamil Nadu.
