APCC urges Centre to delay delimitation process

The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has called on the Indian government to delay its delimitation process. This process is meant to redraw electoral boundaries based on population changes. APCC vice-president Kolanukonda Shivaji expressed concerns that the new boundaries would favor states with higher population growth, mainly affecting representation for southern states. Shivaji addressed these issues during a meeting led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. The meeting focused on ensuring fair political representation for southern states. He pointed out that the delimitation could reduce the South's influence in Parliament. Currently, the South holds about 24% of the Lok Sabha seats, while northern states have approximately 32%. If the number of seats expands to 888, Shivaji warned that the Hindi belt may gain a significant share, while the South could actually lose representation. Shivaji emphasized that the success of southern states in implementing population control measures should not lead to a loss of political power. He urged the government to postpone the delimitation until after conducting a nationwide census.