How 2011 Census-based Delimitation Will Reshape India’s Political Map

 

 

 

If the strength of the Lok Sabha is increased to 850 and seats are allocated on the basis of the 2011 Census population, as envisaged in the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill and the related Delimitation Bill to be introduced in Parliament, there will be a significant reduction in the parliamentary representation of the southern and northeastern states. The main point is that the Hindi-heartland states of North India will be the biggest beneficiaries.

As stipulated in the Bill, the total number of Lok Sabha seats will increase from 543 to 850 (815 seats for the states and 35 seats for the union territories). Of these, 273 seats will be reserved for women. But the main argument of the southern states is that the population-based redelimitation will unfairly benefit the northern states.

The argument is that if the number of seats in the northern states where the BJP is influential increases, it will lead to a loss of influence in parliament for the southerners and a loss in tax sharing. The losses will be felt in six states: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha and Telangana.