Delimitation Flashpoint: Revanth Calls Southern CMs to Join Forces, Seeks PM’s Intervention

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has strongly opposed the proposed pro rata model of delimitation, urging southern states to come together to safeguard their political representation . He also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking an all-party meeting to deliberate on the issue.

In his communication to southern Chief Ministers M K Stalin, N Chandrababu Naidu, Siddaramaiah, Pinarayi Vijayan, and N Rangasamy Reddy stressed that a fragmented response would be inadequate and called for a coordinated effort among like-minded states.

Reddy raised concerns over the Centre’s reported proposal to increase Lok Sabha seats to around 850, largely based on population through a pro rata formula. He argued that such a model would disproportionately benefit states with higher population growth, particularly in the northern and central regions, while diminishing the voice of southern states in Parliament.

He warned that even though all states may see an increase in absolute seat numbers, the relative gap between them would widen significantly. Citing an example, he noted that Tamil Nadu and Puducherry currently have 40 Lok Sabha seats compared to Uttar Pradesh’s 80. Under the proposed expansion, these could rise to around 60 and 120 respectively, thereby widening the gap and creating a structural imbalance in representation .

Describing the development as a matter of political injustice , Reddy said states that have invested in population stabilisation, public health, and economic development would effectively be penalised , while those with higher population growth would gain greater advantage . He termed this a distortion of the country’s federal balance .

As an alternative, Reddy proposed a hybrid model for seat allocation. Under this, 50 per cent of additional seats would be distributed on a population basis, while the remaining 50 per cent would be allocated based on economic performance indicators such as Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and governance outcomes. He said this would ensure a more equitable and balanced system.

Reddy also emphasised that women’s reservation, delimitation, and the increase in Lok Sabha seats are separate issues and should not be conflated. He reiterated that southern states support the Women’s Reservation framework, but without linking it to seat expansion or population-based delimitation.

On financial matters, he alleged that southern states are already facing discrimination in tax devolution, receiving disproportionately lower returns despite higher contributions to the national exchequer. This, he said, reflects a continuing divide between regions.

Calling for collective action, Reddy urged southern and similarly placed states to engage politically, coordinate their stance, and raise the issue in Parliament to ensure their concerns are effectively represented.

Earlier, speaking at an event marking the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar, the Chief Minister reiterated that any delimitation exercise must uphold the principle of fair representation and not undermine states that have prioritised development and demographic stability.

The issue of delimitation is expected to gain further traction in the coming months, with the Centre indicating that a commission may be constituted and consultations held. As debates intensify, the matter is emerging as a key point of contention in Centre state relations and the broader democratic framework.