BJP’s delimitation a threat to Southern States, says KTR

BRS working president KT Rama Rao said the contentious issue of delimitation goes beyond merely adjusting parliamentary representation

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao has voiced serious concerns over the potential fallout of the ongoing delimitation process in South India.

Speaking at the Delimitation Conference organized by Southern State leaders and Chief Ministers in Chennai, Rama Rao termed the move a threat to the future of Southern States and warned that the current policy risks undermining their economic contributions, governance achievements, and democratic representation.

Stating that the Centre was perpetuating decades of discrimination against the region, Rama Rao said the contentious issue of delimitation goes beyond merely adjusting parliamentary representation. He cautioned that it could lead to the centralization of funds and fiscal control, jeopardizing the progress of southern states.

“India is a democratic nation, but it is also a federal union of diverse identities and cultures. We must not forget this,” he emphasized, urging the Centre to reconsider its approach to avoid turning democracy into authoritarian mobocracy.

Expressing dismay at the potential consequences of delimitation, asserting that Southern States, which have excelled in population control and economic development, were being unfairly penalized, he said southern states had faced discrimination from the Centre for decades.

“The current delimitation proposals will not only reduce our parliamentary representation but also inflict injustice across all sectors,” he said.

Rama Rao also presented alternative approaches on behalf of the BRS. He suggested that instead of increasing parliamentary seats based solely on population, the Centre should maintain the current number of Lok Sabha seats while increasing MLA seats in State Assemblies to improve governance efficiency. Alternatively, he proposed that delimitation should factor in a State’s economic progress, administrative efficiency, and developmental achievements rather than just population metrics.

“If the Centre’s goal is better governance and representation, it must explore alternatives that don’t sow discord between States,” he urged., highlighting that southern states contribute 36% to India’s GDP despite constituting only 19% of the population, proposing a revolutionary idea that they deserve proportional representation in Parliament based on their economic output.

Arguing that freezing parliamentary seats for 50 years based on population and now punishing southern states for their success in population control was grossly unjust, he said Southern states did not deserve punishment but deserved encouragement for their contributions to India’s growth. Warning that the current delimitation policy risked creating a divide where developed states lose out while lagging regions gain disproportionately, he said the move was detrimental to India’s aspiration of becoming a superpower.

Addressing the media later, Rama Rao reiterated that southern states were not opposed to aiding underdeveloped regions but firmly rejected discriminatory treatment in fund allocation and representation.

“History will not forgive us if we remain silent. Future generations will question our inaction,” he said, signaling a readiness to fight for the rights of southern states. He also criticized the BJP-led Centre for exacerbating regional disparities, citing examples like the allocation of bullet train projects exclusively to northern states while southern states were overlooked.

The BRS leader underscored that delimitation’s impact extended beyond reduced parliamentary seats, warning of a potential concentration of power that could tilt India toward authoritarianism.

“If four or five states begin dictating the nation’s future, it will erode the spirit of federalism,” he cautioned, calling for a united front among southern states, drawing inspiration from Tamil Nadu’s legacy of fighting for regional rights and the Dravidian movement’s role in upholding federal principles.

“We are all Indians, but our regional identities and contributions must be respected. India can only become a superpower by 2047 if states driving progress are rewarded, not penalized,” he said, adding that the conference marked the beginning of a broader movement, with more such gatherings to challenge the Centre’s delimitation policy and safeguard southern India’s interests on the cards.

Earlier, speaking at the conference, Rama Rao cited the 14-year Telangana movement led by K Chandrashekhar Rao as a testament to resisting majority dominance, drawing parallels with Tamil Nadu’s legacy of fighting for regional rights through the Dravidian movement, and highlighted how Telangana’s struggle against Delhi’s centralized authority and the unified state’s majority leadership culminated in achieving its aspirations.

He also said the BJP-led Centre had neglected promises enshrined in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014, such as equitable representation and development for Telangana, noting that while delimitation was implemented in Jammu and Kashmir, it was conveniently sidelined for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to serve BJP’s political interests, prompting a renewed fight to secure the state’s rightful dues.