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Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has strongly opposed population-based delimitation, warning that such an exercise would politically weaken South India. Speaking at a Joint Action Committee meeting on delimitation in Chennai, Reddy said, “If delimitation is carried out based on population, the North will turn us into secondary citizens. South India will not accept this.” He also urged the central government not to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats during the process.
Highlighting the disparity, Reddy accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of enforcing a “demographic penalty” on the southern states. “Since 1971, when India prioritized family planning, South India has done exceptionally well, whereas large states in North India have lagged behind. As a result, we have achieved faster economic growth, higher GDP, greater job creation, and better social welfare,” he said.
He also pointed out the tax-revenue imbalance between states, emphasizing how South India contributes more but receives less in return. “For every ₹1 paid in tax, Tamil Nadu gets back just 6 paise, Karnataka 16 paise, Telangana 42 paise, and Kerala 49 paise. But Bihar, for every ₹1 paid, gets ₹6.6, while Uttar Pradesh receives ₹2.2 and Madhya Pradesh ₹1.73. We are one nation, and we respect that, but we cannot accept a delimitation process that politically sidelines us,” Reddy stated.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who hosted the meeting, announced that the next discussion on delimitation would be held in Hyderabad. He emphasized that while they were not against delimitation itself, it must be “fair” and vowed to take the fight forward, including exploring legal options. “Continuous action is essential to establish our rights,” Stalin said.
Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the delimitation process as a “sword of Damocles” hanging over South India. He alleged that the BJP-led government was pushing ahead with the exercise without consulting states, raising concerns over its potential impact on representation.
The meeting marked a significant step in South India’s growing resistance to population-based delimitation, with leaders from multiple states signaling a united front against the proposed changes.
