Synopsis
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan urges the Union government to base delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies on consensus, stressing that states should not lose representation for successful population control efforts.Key Takeaways
- Delimitation should not reduce state representation.
- Successful population control states should not be penalized.
- Previous delimitation occurred in 1952, 1963, and 1973.
- 1976 freeze on delimitation until 2031.
- Union's pro-rata claims require clarification.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 15 (NationPress) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan emphasized on Friday that the Union government must reach a decision regarding the delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies through consensus.
The delimitation process should not diminish the current proportional representation of any state. States that have successfully implemented population control initiatives should not face penalties. It is unjust to decrease the parliamentary representation of states that have adhered to population control strategies and family planning policies initiated by the Union government post-independence. This would effectively reward states that have been unsuccessful in these efforts,” Vijayan stated.
He noted that delimitation was previously conducted in 1952, 1963, and 1973.
“However, in 1976, the 42nd Constitutional Amendment imposed a freeze on this process until the first census after 2000 (2001) to encourage population control. Due to ongoing population disparities among states, this freeze was extended until the first census after 2026 (2031) through the 84th Constitutional Amendment. This situation remains unchanged. The recent hasty initiative by the Union Government disregards this context,” Vijayan added.
He also asserted that the Union government's claims regarding additional seats for southern states on a pro-rata basis cannot be accepted without scrutiny.
“The Union has failed to clarify whether this pro-rata allocation will be based on the percentage of current parliamentary seats or population statistics. In both scenarios, the southern states are likely to experience a loss in representation,” he remarked.
“Consequently, it is imperative for the Union Government to address the concerns of the southern states. It is the Union's duty to avoid unilateral actions and ensure the preservation of democracy and federalism,” Vijayan concluded.
