Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday aimed to ease fears regarding the proposed delimitation process, presenting a framework that increases the Lok Sabha to 850 seats while ensuring regional equity.
During his address in the Lok Sabha today, Shah mentioned that the proposed expansion considers an approximate 50% increase in seats and adheres to the same principles established in past delimitation exercises.
“The delimitation bill aligns with those introduced by previous governments,” he stated, countering arguments suggesting a fundamental shift.
In response to concerns raised by southern states, Shah deemed the narrative of diminished representation as “misleading.”
He provided state-specific forecasts to support his claims. Andhra Pradesh’s seats could grow from 25 to 38, Telangana’s from 17 to 26, and Karnataka’s from 28 to 42, while their overall share in the House would remain mostly stable.
“Regarding Tamil Nadu, where numerous residents have expressed worries, I assure the people that your representation will not diminish; it will actually increase,” he affirmed.
He also emphasized that the delimitation exercise will not occur immediately. “The Delimitation Commission’s report will take effect only after being ratified by Parliament and approved by the President,” Shah remarked, noting that the report is unlikely to be released before 2029.
“There is no possibility of its implementation before 2029. Elections until then will proceed under the current system.”
In response to comments made by Priyanka Gandhi regarding women’s representation, Shah reiterated the government’s commitment to increasing women’s involvement in Parliament, suggesting that structural reforms are being aligned with broader representation objectives within the new framework.
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Shah also declared that a caste-based enumeration will be included in the upcoming national census, a significant demand put forth by various Opposition parties.
“Caste census will take place,” he stated, adding that this initiative aims to enhance the data framework related to representation and welfare policies.
