Telangana CM Revanth Reddy Bats For Increase Of Southern States Representatives In Lok Sabha From 24% To 33%

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has emerged as a strong voice against the BJP-led NDA government's proposed delimitation approach, advocating for the South's political rights during a recent meeting in Chennai. Reddy firmly rejected any population-based or pro rata formula for delimitation, warning that such measures would marginalize Southern states in India's political landscape.

CM Reddy called for increasing the South's representation in the Lok Sabha from the current 24% to 33%, arguing that without such measures, Southern states would be reduced to mere spectators while northern states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan dominate political decisions.

During the initial Joint Action Committee meeting on delimitation hosted by the DMK in Chennai, CM Reddy presented Telangana's official position on the matter. The meeting was attended by chief ministers from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Punjab. Reddy proposed hosting the next delimitation meeting in Hyderabad in mid-April.

The Telangana Chief Minister outlined several alternatives for ensuring fair delimitation:

- Following former Prime Minister Vajpayee's strategy of maintaining the current number of Lok Sabha seats for 25 years
- Adjusting state boundaries based on the latest census data
- Increasing reserved seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
- Ensuring 33% women's representation in every state

CM Reddy announced plans to introduce a resolution in the Telangana State Legislative Assembly advocating for "fair delimitation" and urged other Southern states to join this initiative. He proposed forming a united front across Southern political parties and organizing a joint yatra to demonstrate commitment to equitable delimitation practices.

Rather than increasing Lok Sabha seats, CM Reddy suggested the Central Government should focus on intra-state delimitation by expanding Assembly seats-a method previously employed by Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee that maintained political balance among states.

Drawing from personal experience representing Malkajgiri, described as the world's largest Parliamentary constituency with 32 lakh voters, Reddy highlighted the challenges of managing oversized constituencies. He emphasized that Parliament should focus on national policies rather than local issues, which are better addressed at state or local levels.

CM Reddy also highlighted the "Spectacular South's" achievements in family planning, economic growth, and social welfare, arguing that Southern states should be rewarded for their contributions rather than penalized through reduced representation. He criticized the current financial allocation system, noting that while Southern states contribute significantly to the national treasury, they receive disproportionately less in return compared to states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

The Chief Minister called on the Central Government to acknowledge the South's significant contributions to nation-building over the past five decades by exempting it from population-based delimitation, similar to the special consideration given to Union Territories and smaller Northeastern states.