New Delhi: Opposition leaders and southern chief ministers voiced strong objections on Tuesday (14 April) to the Union government's proposed delimitation exercise, warning it could tilt parliamentary power towards more populous northern states and undermine federalism.
The criticism precedes a special two-day parliamentary session on 16–17 April, where the government plans to table three bills amending the Constitution: the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Delimitation Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. These aim to expand the Lok Sabha to 815 seats, implement women's reservation based on the 2011 Census (bypassing the ongoing 2026 Census), and extend the process to Union Territories.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin issued the strongest rebuke, threatening mass agitation akin to the 1960s anti-Hindi protests if Tamil Nadu's concerns are ignored. In a video on X, he framed the move as an assault on the state's identity and dignity, decrying the lack of consultation amid Tamil Nadu's Assembly election preparations. "This is our final warning," he stated, vowing not to be distracted.
DMK MP P. Wilson amplified the message, accusing the BJP of a deliberate ploy to sideline southern states. He highlighted how a population-driven Delimitation Commission—appointed by the Union—would favour high-growth states like Bihar, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh over those like Tamil Nadu and Kerala that curbed population effectively since the 1971 Census baseline. Southern states, he argued, would lose parliamentary clout and fiscal leverage despite their revenue contributions.
CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas called the bills a "death warrant" for federal India, insisting proportional seat increases still favour raw numbers over equity. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy proposed a "hybrid" alternative, blending population with economic metrics like Gross State Domestic Product to reward high-performing states. He urged southern unity, separating delimitation from women's reservation as distinct issues.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah echoed fears of injustice for population-control success stories, while Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K.T. Rama Rao reaffirmed his 2023 warning of a pan-southern people's movement. Chief ministers from Punjab and elsewhere have convened to counter what they term a crisis in representative democracy, where votes in low-growth states would lose value.