Delimitation of LS seats: Raw deal in store for south states, KTR calls for collective fight

HYDERABAD: Is the delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies, scheduled to happen in 2026, turning out to be a convenient smokescreen for the Centre to give a raw deal to southern states while granting undue advantage to the northern states that cared two hoots for population control measures? Concerns are being raised at the innocuous-looking ‘sleight of hand’ through an unjust distribution of Lok Sabha seats to the south states, post the proposed delimitation, based purely on population.

A campaign is gathering steam to oppose the ‘covert design’ and the ‘travesty of natural justice’ to penalise states that were diligent in implementing Central Government initiatives in population control. Once the Lok Sabha seats go up – approximately to 848 – after delimitation, the lion’s share of new seats would accrue to northern states that never believed in population control while the southern states, which were in the forefront of successfully arresting population explosion, will have to settle for far less.

In a nutshell, the southern states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry will pay the ultimate price as they will be penalised for implementing progressive policies.

Leading from the front in opposing this travesty and unfair treatment, Telangana IT and Industries Minister K T Rama Rao has given the clarion call to the political fraternity and the public of the southern states to raise their voice against this grave injustice lying in wait. The working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) vented out his anguish and frustration over the issue through a series of tweets, which instantly received the backing from hordes of discerning followers on social media platforms.

Calling the political class and the people to cut across partisan lines and fight against this ‘tragedy of sorts’, KTR felt that the southern states, which are the best performers on all fronts since India’s independence, should not be penalised with fewer seats due to population-based delimitation of LS constituencies.

KTR also shared a graphic illustration of the Lok Sabha’s potential seat distribution post 2026 delimitation, the data of which was sourced from carnegieendowment.org. As per this projection, the Lok Sabha’s strength will go up to 848, as against the current 543 besides two nominated seats. Post the population-based delimitation, the six southern states including Pondicherry will have a cumulative presence of 165 members in the enlarged house. Interestingly, this number pales out in comparison with the strength of MPs from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which will account for 222 after revision. Other states will make for a major chunk of the seats at 461.

Currently, the six southern states have a total strength of 130 members in Lok Sabha while the same for UP and Bihar is 120. Put simply, UP and Bihar, among other states, will ironically be rewarded with 102 more seats for paying scant respect to the Central government’s population control initiatives since Independence. In stark contrast and a travesty of natural justice, the six southern states will only get 35, a price they will pay for their exemplary work in steadfast control of population.

KTR was quick to spot this camouflaged ‘sleight of hand’ that the impending delimitation will force on the southern states.

The minister was of the view that the delimitation of Lok Sabha seats after 2026 would be a serious injustice to the southern states. He said that it was unfair and painful for the southern States, which are moving forward with progressive policies, to get fewer Lok Sabha seats due to this new delimitation.

“The irony of the situation is that those States that have not heeded the Centre’s decision on population control will now have the last laugh. This is indeed a travesty and a tragedy of it does come true as the southern states have been best performers on all fronts post-Independence,” KTR commented in one of his tweets.

While stressing that the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana had done exceedingly well in population control, the BRS working president expressed anguish that they were being penalised for their progressive policies. “Not only population control and Human Development Index (HDI), the southern states comprising just 18 per cent population of India contribute 35 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“Proud contributors to national economy and growth should not be undermined due to the inappropriate methods in Lok Sabha delimitation process,” KTR felt.

He appealed to the leaders and people of the south states to cut across political lines and mount a collective fight against the injustice in delimitation.