Four north Indian States — Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan,Uttar Pradesh — will collectively gain 22 seatsSouthern States — Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, Tamil Nadu will get to lose 17 seats
As per 2011 census
Bihar and UP stand to gain 21 seatsKerala and Tamil Nadu will have to forfeit 16 seats
Based on population projections in 2026
Source: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Southern States will not be affected by the delimitation exerciseThey will get their rightful share of any increase in seats
What Home Minister Amit Shah said on Feb 26
Without increasing the total number seats, it is impossible to retain seats for southern States
Why should we doubt Shah’s statement? Because
To increase the strengthof Parliament, Amendment to Article 81 of the Constitutionwill be requiredIf reapportionment is done keeping the total number of seats at 543, South States’ seats will reduce to 103 from the present 129, a loss of 26 seats
If seats in new Parliament is increased to 888, as there is a provision, and for southern States they remain constant at 129, the proportionate representation of the South will be reduced substantially
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Telangana account for only 20% of India’s population of 140 crore
South Success Stories
Southern States have successfully implemented the national familyplanning policy
They also outperform the rest of the countryin health, education and economic prospects
Source: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace