Tamil Nadu fought and won: MK Stalin after women's quota bill fails Lok Sabha test

Stalin, an active figure against the Centre's proposed delimitation drive, burned a copy of the delimitation bill earlier this week.

In Short

• MK Stalin congratulates Tamil Nadu after women’s quota bill fails in Lok Sabha
• Stalin stresses fair delimitation process and unity of Tamil Nadu
• Telangana CM Revanth Reddy calls it a red-letter day in Indian history

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and the DMK Supremo, MK Stalin, congratulated the people of Tamil Nadu after the women’s quota bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha, as the centre had fallen short of the majority mark.

Celebrating the moment, Stalin, an active figure against the Centre’s proposed delimitation push, wrote on X, “TN fought, TN won. Delimitation is about representation, about who gets a voice in India’s democracy. It must strengthen the Union, not weaken its balance. Guided by Periyar, inspired by Anna, and strengthened by Kalaignar, Tamil Nadu has always stood for justice, dignity, and federalism. The South stood united and made its voice heard. Democracy prevailed."

In addition to this, the stalwart in Tamil Nadu politics said that the DMK government never opposed the delimitation process; however, it wanted a ‘fair process through consultation’ that would ensure a proper representation of the state in the national political arena.

“This is our resolve: every time Tamil Nadu’s rights are challenged, every time its identity or culture is questioned, and every time the federal spirit of India is tested, Tamil Nadu will rise united and unwavering,” Stalin further wrote, expressing his gratitude to all the opposition parties that voted against the bill in the parliament.

Days before, Stalin burnt a copy of the Delimitation Bill as part of a statewide protest against the government’s proposed drive.

RED LETTER DAY IN INDIAN HISTORY, SAYS REVANTH REDDY

Apart from MK Stalin, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also hailed the failure of the women's quota bill in the Lok Sabha.

Taking to X, Reddy wrote, "Today will be remembered forever as a Red-letter Day in Indian History, when under the leadership of Shri @RahulGandhi Ji, Leader of Opposition, Lok Sabha, and Shri Mallikarjun @kharge Ji, united all democratic forces and opposition leaders in averting a national disaster."

He also thanked all the parties who voted against the bill.

Meanwhile, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) strongly criticised the BJP over the failure of the women’s quota bill in Parliament, holding the ruling party entirely responsible for the setback.

KTR stated that the bill failed primarily because the BJP deliberately linked it with the contentious issue of delimitation, thereby derailing its passage. He pointed out that all political parties, including the BRS, had extended support to women’s reservations, but the BJP’s political approach ensured the Bill did not succeed.

He alleged that by unnecessarily tying the Bill to delimitation, the BJP created avoidable complications and denied women their rightful representation. KTR said that the reservations could have been implemented immediately within the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats, but the BJP chose to politicise the issue.

- Ends