Bhubaneswar: Amid growing political debate over proposed changes to parliamentary representation, data around the Delimitation exercise suggests that southern states may not see a decline in their share in the Lok Sabha.
According to the projections being discussed, several southern states are expected to witness an increase in both the number of seats and their proportional share:
-
Karnataka’s representation is projected to rise from 28 to 42 seats, increasing its share from 5.15% to 5.44%.
-
Andhra Pradesh is expected to go from 25 to 38 seats, with its share moving from 4.60% to 4.65%.
-
Telangana may see an increase from 17 to 26 seats, raising its share from 3.13% to 3.18%.
-
Tamil Nadu’s seats could increase from 49 to 59, with its share rising from 7.18% to 7.23% in an expanded House of 816 members.
-
Kerala is projected to increase from 20 to 30 seats, with its share remaining largely stable at around 3.67%.
Overall, the combined representation of these five southern states is estimated to increase from 129 MPs (23.76% of 543 seats) to 195 MPs (approximately 23.97%) in the expanded Lok Sabha.
These figures are being cited by proponents to counter the narrative that delimitation would reduce the political influence of southern states. However, the issue remains politically sensitive, with concerns still being raised over population-based seat allocation and regional balance.
Further clarity is expected as discussions on constitutional amendments and delimitation proposals progress.
-OdishaAge
