NewzVille Desk
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge today credited the Congress-DMK alliance and Opposition unity for defeating the delimitation bill in Parliament, calling it a “moral victory” for justice and federalism.
He said that the proposed exercise sought to “punish” progressive southern states such as Tamil Nadu by curtailing their representation despite advances in population control and human development, and added that the move was aimed at “diluting the voice” of such regions in the Lok Sabha.
Addressing a public meeting in Hosur alongside Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, Kharge said the people of the state played a decisive role in mobilising opinion against the proposal, adding that the DMK leadership helped expose the issue nationally.
He asserted that the political contest in the state was not merely electoral but a larger struggle to safeguard India’s federal structure, diversity and constitutional values, accusing the BJP of pushing a “centralised, one-culture agenda” in contrast to Tamil Nadu’s ethos of pluralism and social justice.
“This battle was not just about seats. It was about safeguarding federalism, fairness, and the dignity of every Tamil citizen”, Kharge said, adding, “it was about telling Delhi that India is not run by one ideology, one language, or one culture”. He said, “the BJP talks about ‘One Nation, One Culture’, but Tamil Nadu proudly says, Unity in Diversity’.”
He said, while the BJP wants to centralise power in Delhi, Tamil Nadu believes in strong states and true federalism. “They try to divide people in the name of religion. Tamil Nadu stands for harmony, rationality, and brotherhood”, he added.
Kharge cautioned party workers against complacency despite the parliamentary win, warning against the misuse of central agencies and attempts to intimidate Opposition leaders, and said “the final verdict rests with the people on polling day.”
Highlighting governance under the DMK-Congress alliance, he said welfare measures, women-centric schemes, and investments in education and healthcare reflected a “people-first model”, while accusing the BJP of presiding over rising prices, unemployment and institutional erosion.
Framing the April 23 election as an “ideological battle”, Kharge urged voters – particularly youth, women, farmers and workers – to support the Secular Progressive Alliance, asserting that the outcome would signal whether India chooses “division or unity.”
Invoking Dravidian stalwarts and the legacy of social justice in Tamil Nadu, he appealed to voters to “strengthen the hands” of Stalin and ensure a decisive mandate, expressing confidence that the results would send a “strong message against divisive politics” across the country.
He said Tamil Nadu is not just a state, but a guiding light for the entire nation. “This is the land of Periyar, of Anna, of Kalaignar – leaders who taught India the meaning of dignity, rational thought, and equality”, he said, adding, “today, under the leadership of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its alliance with the Indian National Congress, those ideals are not just remembered – they are being practised, protected, and strengthened.”
