Tamil Nadu BJP Chief Annamalai Slams Delimitation Meet as ‘Artificial Issue’
Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai on Saturday criticized Chief Minister MK Stalin’s Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting on delimitation, calling it an “artificial issue” as he led a black flag protest outside the venue in Chennai.
On March 22, 2025, as the first JAC meeting on delimitation began in Chennai, Annamalai spearheaded a BJP protest outside. The demonstration targeted Karnataka’s stance on the Mekedatu dam and Kerala’s position on the Mullaperiyar dam, urging Stalin to prioritize these issues.
The BJP leader accused Stalin of neglecting Tamil Nadu’s core concerns. “TN CM has never gone to Kerala to solve issues, but today, he has invited the Kerala CM to talk about an artificial issue which he has created,” Annamalai told reporters during the protest.
Annamalai further stated, “In the last four years after DMK came to power, Tamil Nadu’s interests have continuously been sacrificed for political gain.” He highlighted unresolved disputes with neighboring states as more pressing than delimitation talks.
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The protest saw BJP workers waving black flags at Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, who attended the JAC meet, over the Mekedatu project. Annamalai also criticized Stalin for not addressing Kerala’s stance on the Mullaperiyar dam with its Chief Minister.
The JAC meeting, hosted by Stalin, aims to unite southern states against the Centre’s delimitation exercise. Annamalai’s remarks reflect the BJP’s stance that the issue is being exaggerated by the DMK for political mileage, escalating tensions in Tamil Nadu.
The BJP plans statewide protests against the DMK, accusing it of sidelining Tamil Nadu’s rights. As the JAC meeting concludes, the opposition’s response and the Centre’s next steps on delimitation will likely shape the ongoing political discourse in the state.
