Southern leaders mobilize against electoral boundary changes

Political tensions are rising in India as southern leaders call for action regarding the potential redrawing of electoral boundaries. This redistricting process, known as delimitation, could change the number of parliamentary seats based on population shifts. Leaders in the southern states fear this could disadvantage them because of lower fertility rates and changes in population growth. MK Stalin, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, warns that the proposed changes could lead to a loss of parliamentary seats for southern states. These states, which include Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Telangana, make up about 20% of India's population, yet they often contribute more economically to the country. The concern is that wealthier states might be penalized for having fewer children, while poorer northern states receive more seats despite their larger populations. The next delimitation is scheduled for 2026, but uncertainties arise as India has not conducted a census since 2011. The country has previously paused delimitation out of fear that it could unfairly favor certain states based on their population growth rates. Currently, the number of MPs in the Lok Sabha, India’s lower house, has stayed fixed at 543 seats since 1971. This has led to overrepresentation of some states and underrepresentation of others. For example, an MP in Uttar Pradesh, which has a large population, represents about three million people, while in Kerala, the representation is lower at approximately 1.75 million per MP. Experts suggest that the electoral map may not reflect the principle of "one-person, one-vote" due to this unequal distribution. Proposed solutions include increasing the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha or reforming how state representation is allocated. Overall, a bipartisan effort will be needed to address these concerns and ensure fair political representation across India.