Southern States Unite Against Population-Based Lok Sabha Delimitation

Tamil Nadu leads a coalition opposing seat redistribution based on population, citing risks to federalism and representation equity.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has called for a 30-year status quo on Lok Sabha seat allocation, using the 1971 Census as the basis for delimitation.
An all-party meeting in Tamil Nadu, excluding the BJP, proposed a Joint Action Committee to coordinate efforts among southern states to prevent reductions in parliamentary seats.
Southern states argue that delimitation based solely on population penalizes them for successful population control policies while rewarding northern states with higher population growth.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured that southern states would not face reduced representation but emphasized that seat increases will follow a pro rata population basis, raising concerns about fairness.
The delimitation debate underscores broader tensions between northern and southern states over political representation, federalism, and equitable governance.