CPI(M) State secretary P. Shanmugam said that it is regrettable that prominent opposition parties like the DMK and AIADMK did not participate in the meeting chaired by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay with Tamil Nadu MPs on delimitation on Saturday (August 8, 2026).Speaking to reporters in Salem, Mr. Shanmugam said that the Union Government planned to pass the delimitation bill through a special session between August 17 to 19. “All parties should be united to save the representation of Tamil Nadu and defeat the drama of the BJP in the name of delimitation. The delimitation based on the 1971 census should be stopped,” Mr. Shanmugam added.Responding to the TVK government’s first budget, he said the budget would never provide full satisfaction. No announcement have been made on the promises made by TVK during the election (₹2,500 for women, ₹4,000 for unemployed youth, filling the vacancies in government departments). He added that the privatisation of the drinking water supply in Salem Corporation should be withdrawn and the CPI(M) will organise a protest in Salem on August 21. “It is not acceptable that private bus owners hike ticket fares as per their wish and the government should take action against private bus owners,” Mr. Shanmugam added. Published - August 08, 2026 08:43 pm IST