Vijayan Warns Against Reducing Parliamentary Representation of South Indian States
Centre Must Uphold Federalism in Delimitation Decisions, Says Kerala CM
BNH NETWORK
Thiruvananthapuram – Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has strongly urged the Union government to adopt a consensus-driven approach to the delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies, emphasizing that no state should suffer a reduction in its parliamentary representation due to successful population control measures.
In a statement issued on Friday, Vijayan criticized any move that would penalize states like Kerala for effectively implementing family planning policies, warning that such decisions would be a disservice to democratic principles and federalism.
“The delimitation should be carried out without reducing the existing proportional share of seats of any state. States that have effectively implemented population control measures should not be punished. It is unfair to reduce the proportional representation in Parliament of states that have adhered to population control programs after independence,” said Vijayan.
Fact File: Delimitation & Its Impact
- Issue: Lok Sabha constituency delimitation
- Kerala CM’s Concern: Potential loss of parliamentary seats for South Indian states
- Key Constitutional Amendments:
- 42nd Amendment (1976): Delimitation freeze until 2001
- 84th Amendment (2001): Freeze extended until 2031
- CM’s Demand: Consensus-based approach, no reduction in representation
- Potential Impact: States with lower population growth could lose seats, affecting political balance
History of Delimitation & Constitutional Amendments
Vijayan reminded that India’s delimitation process was conducted in 1952, 1963, and 1973, but was frozen in 1976 through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment to promote population control.
Key Delimitation Milestones:
- 1976: Freeze imposed on seat redistribution until the first census after 2000 (2001)
- 2001: Freeze extended until the first census after 2026 (2031) through the 84th Constitutional Amendment
“The disparity in population among states still exists, and yet the Union Government is pushing this move in haste without considering the long-standing freeze,” Vijayan noted.
He warned that any premature delimitation process would disproportionately impact South Indian states that have seen slower population growth, creating an imbalance in representation.
Centre’s Lack of Clarity on Seat Distribution
Vijayan also questioned the Centre’s justification for moving forward with delimitation, highlighting the lack of clarity on the basis for additional seat allocation in South India.
“The Union has not clarified whether the pro-rata distribution will be based on the percentage of the current parliamentary seats or on population figures. In either case, South Indian states are bound to lose representation,” he argued.
He emphasized that the Centre must address concerns from the South and ensure that no state is politically disadvantaged due to its adherence to national population control policies.
“The Union Government should alleviate the fears of the South Indian states. It is the Union’s responsibility to refrain from unilateral measures and preserve the essence of democracy and federalism,” Vijayan asserted.
