Concerns about delimitation to be held after fifty years

Concerns about delimitation to be held after fifty years

By strengthening fiscal federalism and the institutional framework, we can ensure that political equity blends with demographic changes, promoting a coherent and united India. Increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats will provide better representation to citizens, reduce the size of constituencies, and improve governance. Increasing parliamentary seats from 543 to over 800 will allow Members of Parliament to serve the needs of voters more effectively. Northern states have suffered underrepresentation due to fixed seat allocations, and delimitation offers an opportunity to correct these historical imbalances.

■ Dr. Satyawan Saurabh 

 It is important to maintain the current seat ratio while adding more seats to more populous states to ensure fair representation. A model similar to the Rajya Sabha can provide a balanced approach without disadvantaging progressive states. While redistributing seats, we should take into account economic contribution, development metrics, and governance effectiveness. States achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be given special political representation, which rewards good governance. Legal measures should be taken to maintain regional balance and prevent the dominance of fast-growing states. The establishment of a regional council within Parliament can help advocate for the interests of underrepresented states. A gradual approach after the 2031 census will allow discussions with stakeholders and a smooth transition.

Before any delimitation, a national commission should assess the potential impacts and suggest necessary safeguards. It is important for state governments to actively participate in delimitation negotiations through established channels. There should be mandatory consultations with the Inter-State Council before any seat redistribution is finalized to encourage cooperative federalism. A well-planned delimitation process can link demographic realities to the integrity of federalism. To avoid regional disparities, we should consider innovative strategies such as the dual representation model, weighted voting, or increasing the powers of the Rajya Sabha. By strengthening fiscal federalism and the institutional framework, we can ensure that political equity aligns with demographic changes, thereby promoting a coherent and united India. Increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats will provide better representation to citizens, reduce the size of constituencies, and improve governance. Increasing parliamentary seats from 543 to over 800 will allow Members of Parliament to address the needs of voters more effectively.

Northern states have suffered underrepresentation due to fixed seat allocations, and delimitation provides an opportunity to correct these historical imbalances. Bihar's representation is still based on 1971 data, despite its population having grown significantly. Revising constituencies according to the latest census data would promote democratic equality and prevent population disparities in electoral representation. Jharkhand, which was carved out of Bihar in 2000, still follows the old electoral structure, which reduces political clarity. Increasing the number of MPs from more populous states would draw attention to developmental inequalities, ensuring that policy interventions are targeted towards underdeveloped regions. For states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, a higher number of MPs could lead to better infrastructure planning and better allocation of investments.

The diminished role of progressive states harms federalism and fair political representation. Southern states with effective governance may lose influence, reducing the incentive for sound policy management. Growth driven by Kerala’s high literacy rate may not translate into adequate seat allocations, discouraging other states from adopting similar strategies. Greater representation for more populous states may lead to a tendency towards centralized policymaking, which may restrict regional governance autonomy. Legislative adjustments favoring agricultural states may neglect the needs of industrial sectors, disrupting economic balance. This political realignment may affect the allocation of taxes by the Finance Commission, which could potentially favor states with larger populations. Despite their significant economic inputs, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra may struggle to protect their fiscal interests due to underrepresentation. Increasing representation based on population alone could exacerbate the divide between north and south, leading to regional tensions.

Political parties in Tamil Nadu are against delimitation, fearing that states with a higher Hindi-speaking population will lose power, which could further fragment the political landscape. Maintaining the current seat ratio while adding more seats for more populous states is important to ensure fair representation. A model like the Rajya Sabha can provide a balanced approach without hurting progressive states. While redistributing seats, we should take into account economic contribution, development metrics, and governance effectiveness. States that achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be given special political representation, which rewards good governance. Legal measures should be taken to maintain regional balance and prevent the dominance of fast-growing states. Establishing a regional council within Parliament can help advocate for the interests of under-represented states.

A gradual approach after the 2031 census will allow for discussions with stakeholders and a smooth transition. Before any delimitation, a national commission should assess the potential impacts and suggest necessary safeguards. It is important for state governments to actively participate in delimitation negotiations through established channels. There should be mandatory consultations with the Inter-State Council before any seat redistribution is finalized to encourage cooperative federalism. A well-planned delimitation process can align demographic realities with the integrity of federalism. To avoid regional disparities, we should consider innovative strategies such as the dual representation model, weighted voting, or increasing the powers of the Rajya Sabha. By strengthening fiscal federalism and the institutional framework, we can ensure that political equity aligns with demographic changes, leading to a coherent and united India.