Speaking at a BJP event in Coimbatore, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday assured that southern states would not face any reduction in parliamentary seats ahead of the delimitation process. He stated that the Narendra Modi-led government has clarified in the Lok Sabha that “not a single seat of any southern state will decrease” after delimitation, which will be conducted on a proportional basis.
His statement came a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin showed concerns regarding the delimitation’s impact on the southern state. The southern political leaders are fearing that the delimitation, which is solely carried out on population figures, will favor northern states and will be a disadvantage for the south, as the north has seen higher population growth.
Delimitation is a constitutional mandate that is meant to adjust the number and boundaries of parliamentary and assembly seats based on the latest population data. However, since 1976, the number of seats has remained unchanged. Opposition parties, especially with a strong presence in the South, are concerned that population-based delimitation would benefit northern states and parties like the BJP.
During the parliamentary debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill in September 2023, Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK raised concerns over delimitation. DMK MP Kanimozhi, citing a statement from CM Stalin, warned that a census-based delimitation could reduce the South’s representation. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also pointed out disparities in projected seat increases, highlighting that while Kerala may see no change and Tamil Nadu only a 26% rise, states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh could witness a 79% surge.
With delimitation on the horizon, the issue continues to be a point of debate, particularly in southern states fearing reduced political influence.
Edited By Saumya Sharan
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