As part of the state-wide protest announced by the DMK against the Delimitation Bill, Minister for Tourism R. Rajendran and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai hoisted a black flag in Salem on Thursday (April 16, 2026).

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Mr. Rajendran hoisted a black flag at his house in Meenakshi Nagar of TVS Colony in the presence of DMK cadre. The Minister and the cadre raised slogans against the Union government and demanded withdrawal of the Bill. Later, the Minister, accompanied by the cadre, went to the Salem District DMK office at the new bus stand and burnt a copy of the Delimitation Bill.

Likewise, Mr. Selvaperunthagai participated in a black flag protest at Erumapalayam and raised slogans against the Union government.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Selvaperunthagai said the Bill would prevent anyone from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana from becoming the Prime Minister. Only those from northern States would be able to become Prime Minister, he added.

The Union government was trying to increase the number of MP seats in places where hardcore Hindutva prevailed, while reducing MP seats in south India. This would diminish the representation and suppress the voice of the southern States. Mr. Selvaperunthagai said that the union government in the 1970s asked the states to control population and Tamil Nadu followed this instruction for the benefit of the nation. “Is this punishment for that?” he questioned. “We will never accept this and a significant revolution will happen in Tamil Nadu and the Bill should be dropped. There is also a conspiracy behind bringing this bill in parliament while elections are ongoing,” Mr. Selvaperunthagai added.