‘With more MPs, we will not get chance to speak’

Lok Sabha MP Karti Chidambaram expressed his views on "Delimitation: Does India Need More MPs in Parliament?"

- BADAR BASHIR

He thinks that more MPs may limit the time available to the parliamentarians to speak. He further offered candid insights on representation, economic challenges, and the necessity for pragmatic reforms over superficial expansions.

Addressing the idea of increasing the number of Members of Parliament (MPs), Chidambaram was clear, "We don't need more members. With 543 MPs, many already struggle to get speaking time. Expanding Parliament would only create chaos. What we need is a more effective legislative process and stronger local governance to deliver services to the people."

He emphasised the inefficiency of the current setup, "Increasing seats won't lead to better outcomes. Instead, we should focus on enhancing the quality of discussions and legislation." Chidambaram dismissed concerns about population decline, countering alarmist rhetoric with pragmatism, "I'd welcome a decrease in population—it's not a cause for concern. What we lack are employment opportunities for the current population, let alone a larger one."