New Delhi: A meeting of MPs from Tamil Nadu convened by chief minister C. Joseph Vijay on Saturday (August 8) called for the Lok Sabha’s existing strength of 543 seats and the current allocation of seats among states to be retained, even as it was boycotted by the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) MPs.The meeting, held at Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai, also decided that the Tamil Nadu Assembly should adopt a government resolution seeking to protect the state’s representation and the interests of southern States.According to an official release issued after the meeting, the participating MPs agreed that political parties should oppose and vote against any Constitutional Amendment Bill that changes the present allocation of Lok Sabha seats. They also argued against giving the Delimitation Commission extensive powers, saying Parliament should have the final say.Southern states have been concerned that the Union government’s delimitation initiative based on recent population figures could increase the parliamentary weight of states with larger populations while reducing their relative representation. States such as Tamil Nadu have argued that this would penalise them for policies that helped curb population growth.The meeting, however, did not have the participation of the State’s two principal Dravidian parties. The DMK and AIADMK boycotted it, along with the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and Makkal Needhi Maiam. Of Tamil Nadu’s 57 MPs, 39 in the Lok Sabha and 18 in the Rajya Sabha, only 19 attended, according to The Hindu.The DMK’s objection was to Vijay holding a separate meeting rather than building on the all-party process initiated by former chief minister M.K. Stalin. DMK parliamentary party leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi called the meeting a “political drama”, The News Minute reported.The DMK has demanded that the 1971 Census remain the basis for parliamentary representation for another 30 years after 2026. It has also said that if the Lok Sabha is expanded, Tamil Nadu’s existing share of around 7.18% should be protected.The AIADMK objected to the format, saying Vijay should have invited party leaders for an all-party consultation rather than convening MPs separately.Those who participated included MPs from the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M)), Communist Party of India (CPI), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK). Congress MP R. Sudha was absent because of party work in Karnataka.Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said Tamil Nadu’s 39 Lok Sabha seats must be protected and argued that simply increasing the size of the House to 815 or 850 would not resolve the State’s concerns.VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan opposed both an increase of 50% in the number of MPs and any redistribution based on population, while MDMK principal secretary Durai Vaiko said the existing arrangement should continue and any change should require a Constitutional Amendment Bill, according to The Hindu.As per the newspaper, CPI (M) MP Su. Venkatesan said the claim that all States would receive a 50% increase was not reflected in the delimitation Bill introduced in Parliament in April. He described the suggestion as a “deceptive ploy”.