Delimitation a ‘sword of Damocles’ over south: Kerala CM

Chennai: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday strongly opposed the proposed delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies, calling it a "sword of Damocles" hanging over states, particularly in southern India, which have successfully reduced their population. He urged the Centre to engage in "meaningful dialogues" before proceeding with the process, warning that it was driven by "narrow political interests" rather than Constitutional principles or democratic imperatives.

Speaking at the first Joint Action Committee meeting convened in Chennai by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, Vijayan criticized the Centre for moving ahead with delimitation without consultation. He argued that if the process follows the Census, it will inevitably lead to an increase in parliamentary seats for northern states while reducing representation for southern states, a move he claimed would favor the BJP, given its greater political influence in the north.

Highlighting the political motivations behind the sudden push for delimitation, Vijayan stressed that the Union government must consider the broader implications for Indian federalism and the preservation of the country’s cultural and linguistic diversity. He also dismissed the Centre’s claim that states that reduced their population would receive additional seats on a pro-rata basis, pointing out that no clear clarification had been provided on whether this distribution would be based on the current parliamentary seat strength or population figures.

Vijayan underscored the contradiction in the Centre’s stance, noting that states that successfully implemented the National Population Policy of 1976 are now being penalized. He criticized the approach that ties reduced population to diminished funds and political representation, calling it deplorable. He further pointed out that Kerala, like other states that lowered population growth, was already suffering from a cut in tax shares due to the same rationale.

Expressing concern over Kerala’s potential loss of parliamentary seats, Vijayan warned that if both financial allocations and political representation continue to decline, the state would be left in an unprecedented situation where it loses both its rightful share of funds and the political leverage to demand them. He accused the Centre of destabilizing the federal system through its fiscal policies, language and cultural policies, and now, the fixation of parliamentary representation, insisting that such moves could not be allowed to go unchecked.

Vijayan likened the potential impact of delimitation to colonial-era centralization, where majoritarian agendas silenced diverse voices. He cautioned that ignoring federalism in the delimitation process would undermine India’s pluralistic foundation. He argued that smaller or less populous states losing political influence would weaken their ability to protect their cultural and linguistic identities, leading to a Parliament dominated by populous states that may sideline regional priorities.

Calling for immediate dialogue between the Centre and states, Vijayan urged the Union government to incorporate state concerns before moving forward with the delimitation process. He reaffirmed that federalism is not a gift from the Union but a fundamental right of states. Concluding his speech, Vijayan asserted that the fight against unfair delimitation was not just about securing parliamentary seats but about preserving India's identity as a diverse and inclusive democracy.

With PTI inputs