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Delimitation is the process of redrawing electoral constituency boundaries to reflect population changes. It is a critical mechanism to ensure equitable representation in legislative bodies. In India, this exercise is constitutionally mandated to occur after every national census, as outlined in Articles 82 and 170 of the Constitution. The primary objective is to adjust the allocation of seats in the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and State Legislative Assemblies based on demographic shifts, thereby upholding the principle of “one person, one vote.”
Historical Context
India has undertaken delimitation exercises four times since independence—in 1952, 1963, 1973, and 2002. Recognizing the need to promote population control measures, the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution in 1976 froze the number of Lok Sabha seats based on the 1971 census until 2001. This freeze was extended by the 84th Amendment in 2002, postponing delimitation until after the 2026 census. The intent was to ensure that states implementing effective family planning programs were not politically disadvantaged.
Ruling Party’s Perspective
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government advocates for conducting the delimitation exercise post-2026 to realign parliamentary constituencies with current population data. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured that this process will not adversely affect the representation of southern states, emphasizing that no state will lose seats due to delimitation. He stated, “I have said that there won’t be any injustice with the South that is the BJP’s decision. How we do it, we will sit down with everyone and discuss. We will not defer delimitation.”
Opposition’s Concerns
Opposition parties, particularly from southern states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, have expressed apprehension that delimitation based solely on population could reduce their parliamentary representation. These states have successfully implemented population control measures, leading to lower population growth compared to northern states. Leaders fear that using updated population figures for delimitation would penalize states that have managed population growth effectively.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has been vocal about this issue, proposing a resolution to maintain the current boundaries until 2056 to ensure fair representation. He emphasized that determining parliamentary constituencies based solely on population would penalize southern states that have implemented effective population control measures. Stalin stated, “Our demand is clear—don’t determine parliamentary constituencies based on population alone. Do not penalize the southern states that took responsible measures to control population growth.”
Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has echoed similar concerns. He has expressed skepticism regarding assurances that southern states’ representation will not diminish, highlighting the need for a fair and equitable approach to delimitation that does not disadvantage states with successful population control policies.
Regional Disparities and Potential Impact
The core of the debate lies in the potential shift of political power towards northern states, which have experienced higher population growth. Projections suggest that if delimitation proceeds based on recent population data, states like Uttar Pradesh could gain additional seats, while southern states might see a reduction in their representation. This scenario raises concerns about the marginalization of regions that have contributed significantly to India’s economic growth and have been proactive in implementing development policies.
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