Fear of Northern Domination in Parliament Sparks Protest
Leaders of opposition parties from India’s southern states convened on Wednesday to protest the central government’s plan to redraw parliamentary constituencies based on the 2011 census. The move, they argue, would disproportionately benefit northern states and reduce the representation of southern regions in the Lok Sabha.
The protest, spearheaded by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, has gained the backing of the Congress party and over a dozen regional parties across five southern states. These states, known for their stronger economic growth and lower population growth rates, fear that the delimitation exercise will unfairly penalize them for their success in curbing population expansion.
Call for 1971 Census-Based Boundaries Until 2056
Stalin tabled a resolution urging the central government to retain the current parliamentary seat distribution, which was determined based on the 1971 census. He proposed that any future boundary redrawing should be postponed until 2056, allowing time for northern states to stabilize their population growth rates.
“We are not against delimitation, but it shouldn’t be a punishment for those who have successfully controlled population growth,” said Sarvanan Annadurai, spokesperson for Stalin’s DMK party.
The resolution also called for a constitutional amendment to ensure proportional representation for all states, even if the total number of Lok Sabha seats increases.
Concerns Over Unequal Representation
Currently, Lok Sabha members represent an unequal number of people across different states. Southern states, despite their economic contributions and lower fertility rates, risk losing seats in parliament if delimitation is carried out using the 2011 census data.
According to India’s Constitution, a delimitation exercise is supposed to take place after every national census, which is conducted every ten years. However, the 2021 census was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Modi government has not yet initiated the process of counting India’s estimated 1.4 billion population. The last completed census in 2011 recorded a population of 1.21 billion.
Despite having 543 seats in the Lok Sabha since the 1970s, the newly constructed parliament building— inaugurated last year— was designed to accommodate 888 members, indicating that an expansion is being considered.
BJP’s Stand: No Disadvantage to Southern States
Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently assured that southern states would not be adversely affected by the delimitation process. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed Stalin’s demands, accusing him of attempting to create a political divide between northern and southern India.
However, opposition leaders argue that the central government has historically overlooked the interests of southern states in matters such as fund allocation, grants, irrigation projects, and drought relief.
With over 15 regional parties now rallying against the proposed delimitation, the issue is set to remain a major political flashpoint in the coming months.
