Rahul Gandhi visits Tamil Nadu, warns delimitation could weaken state’s parliamentary voice

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in Chennai on August 1 to attend the concluding day of a ten‑day training camp for Tamil Nadu Congress district presidents in Mahabalipuram. The camp, part of the party’s grassroots “Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan”, aimed to strengthen the organisation at village and booth levels ahead of upcoming local‑body and parliamentary elections. Gandhi addressed the participants, discussed electoral strategies and urged cadres to focus on delivering welfare schemes.

During the visit Gandhi criticised the central government’s proposed delimitation exercise, calling it a BJP conspiracy designed to disenfranchise Tamil Nadu and reduce its representation in Parliament. He likened supporters of the bill to “21st‑century Ettappans”, a historic symbol of betrayal, and appealed to regional and national parties to unite against the legislation. Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat echoed the stance, arguing that increasing the number of MPs would only add a burden.

The Bharatiya Janata Party responded sharply, questioning Gandhi’s claims, defending the delimitation process as fair, and accusing him of anti‑national rhetoric. The exchange highlighted the political tension surrounding the delimitation debate in the state.