Delimitation debate: A reality check by TN

The delimitation debate is back with a beat and more likely to dominate the politics of India in the coming years or even travel beyond into next decades.

- Ramu Manivannan

It is significant to note that the chief minister of Tamil Nadu has also called for the unity of the southern states over the delimitation challenge by calling it as the sword over south India. There is a need to focus on the fear of states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala over losing their due representation and the likelihood of states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh gaining more seats resulting in disproportionate accumulation of power and influence in the national governing structure because of the one and only criterion of population status.

The charge that Tamil Nadu is likely to lose eight seats has been refuted by Union home minister Amit Shah who stated that Tamil Nadu's share of seats will not be reduced after the exercise. But, does it mean that the number of seats for Uttar Pradesh and Bihar based on the same criteria of population will not increase without reducing the numbers for the south? This does not reflect any fairness or justice to the southern states if the numbers are solely to be determined by the pro rata of population as the single and only criteria while they perceive victimisation for successful performance in population control through education of women and the overall human development policies including health and education.