Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao has voiced his apprehensions regarding the upcoming delimitation of Lok Sabha seats, expressing concerns that it could lead to a “gross injustice” for the southern states if it is solely based on population. The minister’s remarks come in response to reports suggesting that if the BJP-led government retains power in the 2024 general elections, they would undertake the delimitation process of parliamentary constituencies.
The newly inaugurated Lok Sabha chamber in the Parliament building, which can accommodate up to 888 members, indicates the anticipation of a future increase in the number of MPs. This expansion has raised speculations about a forthcoming delimitation exercise.
Under the 84th Amendment of the Constitution, the borders of constituencies were frozen until the first census after 2026, or at least after 2031. Currently, the seat allocation in the Lok Sabha is based on the 1971 Census, with a total of 543 seats. Rama Rao, in a press release, expressed his concern that a population-based delimitation could result in a reduction of Lok Sabha seats for the southern states.
The minister argued that it would be unjust and distressing if the southern states were to receive fewer seats due to delimitation, while states in the northern region would benefit from an increase in seats, despite not effectively controlling their population as urged by the central government.
Rama Rao emphasized that the southern states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana, have diligently adhered to population control policies and have achieved significant progress in various human development indicators. He highlighted that despite constituting only 18 percent of the country’s population, these states contribute 35 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and play a pivotal role in national economic development. Rama Rao called upon the leaders and people of the southern states to unite and voice their concerns against what they perceive as an impending injustice, transcending political affiliations.
The Telangana Minister’s statements reflect the apprehension felt by many in the southern states who fear that their progressive policies and population control efforts might be undervalued and undermined in the delimitation process. The potential discrepancy between population size and representation in the Lok Sabha raises questions about the fairness and equity of the impending exercise. As discussions around delimitation continue, it remains to be seen how the concerns of the southern states will be addressed and whether alternative methodologies will be considered to ensure a more balanced representation in India’s parliamentary system.
