The government of India is likely to finish the Delimitation Exercise before the next General Elections in 2029.
Also Read – Nagababu Calls Jagan Best Comedian
Delimitation is nothing but redrawing the boundaries of the legislative assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies based on the last census. The present delimitation of constituencies was done based on the census of 2001.
The last delimitation happened in 2008.
Also Read – Not Jagan, Pawan Goes Off-Track & Hurts Own Ally
The delimitations that happened so far were only confined to equating the population among the parliamentary and assembly seats. The number of Assembly and Parliament Seats was not increased. But they can be increased after 2026 according to the law.
But there is a catch now. If the increase/decrease of the Parliament Seats happens on the basis of the Population, it will be a big problem for South Indian states. the Parliament seats would decrease and they would lose their leverage over the Government of India.
Also Read – CBN, Lokesh’s Special Wishes to Pawan
The Southern States implemented Strict Population Control Measures in the last two decades and they would be losing now.
The Northern States particularly the BIMARU States (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh) registered huge population growth and will have an increase in the seats.
BJP which is weak in the South would naturally like this scenario and the leaders of the South are in panic mode.
Leaders like Chandrababu Naidu who are in the NDA are also in panic mode but are willing to wait until the complete details are out.
Southern states made up 26.2 percent of India’s population in 1951, their share had dropped to 19.8 percent by 2022.
In contrast, the population share of states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan had increased from 39.1 percent to 43.2 percent.
If the constituencies are increased or decreased based on the latest census, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar alone would have 222 Lok Sabha seats, while the five southern states combined would get only 165 seats.
The principle of natural justice is with the Southern States in this issue.
Keeping that aside, how do they approach the Delimitation if not population?
Some leaders suggest that the current percentage of seats that every state holds should be fixed.
For suppose, Andhra Pradesh has 4.6% of the total Lok Sabha Seats right now. And it should get 4.6% of total seats in Loksabha after delimitation too. That way the representation will stay equitable.
But then, the bigger states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra will continue the advantage they are currently having with more seats but at least the situation would not become worse.
And some other suggest that the seats should be increased or decreased based on the Economic Performance of the State.
The states that contribute more to the Country’s GDP should have more seats than others.
That will benefit the Southern States and penalize the Bimaru States.
Currently, the Southern States contribute more to the Country’s GDP but get around half of what it contributes (via share in Central Taxes, Devolution, etc). The Bimaru states are getting much more than what they contribute.
It is fair to hand over the Political Advantage via seat increase to the Southern States while the Bimaru States anyway benefit from the Central Taxes due to their Population.
But then, the final decision is most likely to be taken based on the Political Gains of the BJP.
Delimitation is a process that impacts Generations to come. It is quite natural that the BJP will prioritize its political benefits. It is important that the Southern States should be united to protect the interests of the region.
