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With Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin reopening the debate surrounding delimitation, the most pertinent question to ask here is—why are the southern states wary of this exercise? To answer this question, the concept of delimitation needs to be understood first.
Delimitation is the process of redrawing the boundaries of parliamentary and state assembly constituencies to reflect changes in population. It is conducted to ensure fair political representation based on demographic shifts and also determines how many seats will be reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). This system was put into place to ensure balanced representation, preventing distortions in political power that could arise due to uneven population growth across different regions.
As per Articles 82 and 170 of the Indian Constitution, the number of seats and their boundaries are adjusted after each census. This task is carried out based on the latest census data by the Delimitation Commission, which is established through a law passed by Parliament. The idea behind this exercise is to uphold the democratic principle of “one citizen, one vote, one value,” ensuring that every constituency represents an approximately equal number of people.
HISTORY OF DELIMITATION
The delimitation exercise has been carried out three times in independent India—1951, 1961, and 1971. With each census, as the population increased, so did the number of seats in the Lok Sabha.
- 1951 Census: 494 seats | Population: 36.1 crore (7.3 lakh people per seat)
- 1961 Census: 522 seats | Population: 43.9 crore (8.4 lakh people per seat)
- 1971 Census: 543 seats | Population: 54.8 crore (10.1 lakh people per seat)
However, despite India's rapid population growth, the number of Lok Sabha seats has remained frozen since the 1971 Census. This was primarily due to a decision made in 1976, during the peak of India’s family planning campaign, when the government decided to postpone delimitation for 25 years. The rationale behind this was to incentivize population control by ensuring that states with lower population growth were not penalized in terms of political representation.
This freeze was enacted through the 42nd Amendment Act and was meant to last until 2000. However, in 2001, through the 84th Amendment Act, the freeze was extended by another 25 years, pushing the next delimitation exercise to 2026.
CURRENT SCENARIO AND ITS IMPACT
Although the number of seats has remained unchanged since 1971, constituency boundaries and SC/ST reservations were adjusted after the 2001 Census and will be reviewed again after 2026. However, this does not change the total number of Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha seats.
If the standard patterns from previous exercises are followed, then the next delimitation could lead to a major restructuring of parliamentary constituencies. Given that India’s population is expected to reach 1.41 billion by 2026, the redrawing of constituencies is likely to be significant.
The delimitation process is particularly concerning for southern states due to their relatively lower population growth rates. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana have all achieved significant success in family planning and population stabilization. However, this very success may lead to a decline in their political influence, as the exercise would likely benefit states in the north and central parts of India, where population growth has been more rapid.
WHY TAMIL NADU IS CONCERNED
On February 25, Chief Minister MK Stalin took to social media to voice his concerns, emphasizing that delimitation is not just a Tamil Nadu issue, but an issue affecting all of South India. He argued that a democratic process should not penalize states that have successfully managed population growth, led in development, and made significant contributions to the nation’s economic progress.
Currently, the five southern states collectively hold 129 out of 543 Lok Sabha seats, which accounts for roughly 24 percent of the total parliamentary representation:
- Telangana: 17 seats
- Andhra Pradesh: 25 seats
- Kerala: 20 seats
- Tamil Nadu: 39 seats
- Karnataka: 28 seats
However, based on projected figures and an estimated ratio of 20 lakh people per constituency, the total number of Lok Sabha seats may increase to 753 post-delimitation. This would significantly alter the representation of southern states:
- Telangana: 20
- Andhra Pradesh: 28
- Kerala: 19
- Tamil Nadu: 41
- Karnataka: 36
While this increases the absolute number of seats for the southern states, their overall percentage representation in Lok Sabha would drop from 24 percent to 19 percent. This decline in proportional representation is at the heart of the controversy.
Meanwhile, northern states would see dramatic gains in parliamentary seats:
- Uttar Pradesh: 80 → 128
- Bihar: 40 → 70
- Madhya Pradesh: 29 → 47
- Maharashtra: 48 → 68
- Rajasthan: 25 → 44
This shift raises concerns that policy decisions at the national level will be increasingly dominated by states with higher population growth, potentially sidelining the interests of the South.
ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION
Another major contention regarding delimitation is the economic imbalance between states. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, along with Maharashtra, contribute significantly to direct taxes, yet they receive only about 30 percent of their contributions in return.
In contrast, states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh receive 250-350 percent of what they contribute in terms of tax revenue. This disparity has long been a source of discontent in the South, and the possibility of losing political representation further aggravates these concerns.
POLITICAL RESPONSES AND REACTIONS
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has refuted Tamil Nadu’s concerns, assuring that no southern state would lose a single seat in Parliament due to delimitation. However, DMK MP A Raja countered this claim, pointing out that both the Indian Constitution and the 2002 Delimitation Act mandate that the process must be based on population. He questioned whether the Centre intends to base the exercise on the latest census data or maintain the existing parliamentary structure.
In contrast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a rally in Telangana in October 2023, had a different take. He suggested that South India could lose up to 100 Lok Sabha seats, an apparent exaggeration but one that aligned with concerns raised by Stalin and other southern leaders.
Political figures from Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) have also echoed Tamil Nadu’s concerns, calling for a transparent discussion on how delimitation will be conducted and what measures will be taken to ensure fair representation.
THE WOMEN’S RESERVATION ACT AND DELIMITATION
Adding another layer of complexity to the delimitation debate is the Women’s Reservation Act, passed on September 19, 2023. The Act mandates 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies, but its implementation is contingent on the next delimitation exercise. This means that before women’s reservation can be enforced, constituency boundaries and seat allocations must first be finalized, further emphasizing the urgency of the delimitation process.
CONCLUSION
As 2026 approaches, the debate over delimitation is only expected to intensify. While the process is meant to ensure equitable representation, it must also balance the interests of states that have successfully implemented population control measures. The Centre will have to navigate this issue carefully to prevent alienation and ensure that India’s democratic structure remains inclusive and fair.
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