Pudukkotai, April 18 -- Tamil Nadu Minister for Natural Resources and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader S Ragupathi on Saturday termed the defeat of the delimitation-related constitutional amendment bill in Parliament as the "first victory" for Tamil Nadu, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attempted to undermine the state's rights through the proposed legislation.

Speaking to reporters in Pudukkottai, Ragupathi said the BJP moved the bill despite being aware that it did not have the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha, and accused the party of attempting to gain political advantage.

He alleged that the BJP is sustaining its government at the Centre with the support of allies and claimed that the delimitation ...