The Centre has clarified that the proposed delimitation exercise will not reduce the representation of southern states in the Lok Sabha. Instead, the government plans to increase the total number of seats by about 50%, expanding the House from 543 to 816 seats. According to Amit Shah, this model will ensure that every state gains seats proportionately without losing its current share.
During a debate in Parliament, Amit Shah addressed concerns about southern states losing influence. He said that this belief is a misconception. The government has proposed to carry out delimitation based on the 2011 Census. It will also introduce 33% reservation for women. However, these changes will come into effect only after the 2029 general elections.
At present, southern states together hold 129 out of 543 seats, which is around 23.7% of the Lok Sabha. Under the new plan, their total seats will increase to 195 out of 816, keeping their share almost the same at about 24%. Meanwhile, the remaining 621 seats will go to other states, mostly in northern India.
The government has said that it will follow the existing legal framework for delimitation without making any changes to the law. Officials have also confirmed that the current elections will not be affected by this proposal. The process will take place only after receiving approval from Parliament and the President.
Delimitation in India has taken place only a few times in the past and was frozen for several years to maintain balance in representation. The Centre now aims to update the system while ensuring fairness for all states.
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Southern States Seat Share Remains Stable
Even though the total number of seats will increase, the government says the share of southern states will remain stable. However, some leaders, including M. K. Stalin, have raised concerns. They believe that higher population growth in northern states may increase their influence in absolute terms. As a result, southern states worry that their political power could reduce over time despite maintaining a similar percentage share.
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