CHENNAI: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Union government and the RSS, alleging that the upcoming delimitation exercise is a political conspiracy targeted at Tamil Nadu.
Addressing a press conference in Chennai, Gandhi claimed that the framework of the proposed delimitation is designed explicitly to strip the people of Tamil Nadu of their political influence and disenfranchise voters.
Connecting the issue directly to the state’s identity, Gandhi said the matter extends far beyond a simple restructuring of parliamentary seats. “I have something urgent to say about the people of Tamil Nadu, the Tamil language, and the future of the state. The BJP is deliberately pushing this delimitation framework to take away the political power and rights of the Tamil people,” he asserted.
VIDEO | Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu: Addressing a press conference, Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) says, “There is an attempt by the BJP to carry out delimitation. Delimitation is designed to disenfranchise and take away power from the people of Tamil… pic.twitter.com/X7bDxMx1uM
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 1, 2026
Invoking local history, the Congress leader cautioned that supporting the exercise would amount to an outright betrayal of the state. He warned that anyone backing delimitation is actively helping the RSS and BJP attack the people of Tamil Nadu and their future.
Referring to historical terminology, Gandhi remarked that anyone supporting the proposal would be considered a “21st-century Ettappan”-a figure symbolically associated with betrayal and treason in Tamil folklore.
Appealing for unity across party lines, Gandhi urged citizens and political leaders to resist the move both on the streets and inside Parliament. He stressed that it is the duty of every regional party in Tamil Nadu and every national party in the country to unite and decisively defeat the delimitation proposal on the floor of the House.
