Chennai, Mar 21 (Reporter) A crucial Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting involving representatives from non-BJP ruled States which were likely to face reduction in the number of Lok Sabha seats because of the proposed delimitation exercise based on population by the BJP-led Government at the Centre, will be held in Chennai on Saturday. Two Chief Ministers, a Deputy Chief Minister, for CMs and representatives of more than 20 political parties from nearly seven non-BJP ruled states, including all the Southern states, will participate in the meeting convened by the ruling DMK in line with the resolutions adopted at an all-party meeting convened by it here on March five. Invitations have been extended personally by senior DMK leaders to Chief Ministers and leaders of political parties on the directions of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin, who has taken the lead as TN stands to lose eight of the total 39 seats, reducing its parliamentary representation. The southern states too stands to lose their parliamentary representation in view of the exercise. Mr Stalin said the population-based exercise was aimed at punishing the states, which had effectively implemented population-control measures and contributed significantly to Nation's progress, development and growth. DMK MLA Dr.Ezhilan Naganathan, who is also the secretary of the DMK’s Medical Wing, told reporters that Mr Stalin had written letters to Chief Ministers and representatives of 20 political in seven states inviting them to join the JAC. Mr Stalin also urged them to nominate their nominees and attend the meeting convened by the DMK to discuss the crucial issue of delimitation based on population which would tilt the Parliamentary composition in favour of highly populated Northern States (Hindi belt region) which had not strictly implemented population control measures and stands to gain higher number of seats from the proposed exercise. Subsequently, senior DMK Ministers and MPs visited these states to invite the respective Chief Ministers and opposition leaders to take part in the meeting to chalk out measures to prevent the states from losing Lok Sabha constituencies in view of the delimitation exercise in 2026. Mr Ezhilan said Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, leaders of CPI, CPI(M), RSP, Kerala Congress and other political parties from the state; Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and other leaders; Punjab Chief Minister Bhgawant Mann; Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar; the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal; and Biju Janata Dal of Odisha have agreed to send their representatives. West Bengal CPI(M) State Secretary Mohammed Salim and many others will also be participating in the meeting, which will mark a historic day that will alter the course of Indian history by ushering in a political change, Mr Ezhilan said. Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party leader Jagan Mohan Reddy, Valla Srinivasa Rao of the ruling TDP, Biju Janata Dal leader Navin Patnaik will also attend the meeting, he said. “Our Chief Minister sensed the dangers of the delimitation and invited Chief Ministers of seven states to take part in the meeting and nominate their representatives to the JAC formed to carry forward the agenda and create an awareness among the people", he said. The DMK MPs also raised the issue in Parliament, staged a walk out and also held a protest demonstration in Parliament annexe to condemn the Centre. Mr Ezhilan said the DMK, which had been steadfastly opposing the NEP, claimed that envisaged alleged Hindi imposition in the name of three language policy in Tami Nadu, had been fighting for the rights of states, social justice and protecting the long followed and the existing two-language policy. “Our voice will be heard only if we have adequate representation in Parliament,” he said. Meanwhile, in a video message ahead of tomorrow's meeting, Mr Stalin said the delimitation exercise based on population was a deliberate attempt to undermine certain states. While urging the Centre to maintain status quo beyond 2026 for another 30 years on the issue, Mr Stalin said the proposed delimitation will strike at the very foundation of federalism in India. "It will erode the essence of democracy itself. Our voices in Parliament will be silenced. Our rights will be compromised", he said. "This is nothing short of a deliberate attempt to undermine certain States that have controlled their population growth, governed efficiently, and contributed significantly to national progress and they must not be punished by the Union Government", the Chief Minister said...////...