The issue of delimitation has gained renewed attention after the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu raised concerns about its impact on political representation.
Delimitation
Delimitation refers to the process of fixing the number of seats and boundaries of territorial constituencies for the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
According to constitutional provisions, the next delimitation is to be carried out based on the first Census after 2026. Given that the 2021 Census has been delayed due to COVID-19, the debate over delimitation has intensified.
Constitutional Provisions
- Delimitation is governed by Articles 81, 82, 170, 330, and 332 of the Constitution of India.
- Article 82 empowers Parliament to enact a Delimitation Act after every Census.
- Article 170 pertains to the composition of State Legislative Assemblies and mandates readjustment after every Census.
- The Delimitation Commission, an independent body, is constituted under an Act of Parliament to carry out this exercise.
- Past delimitation exercises were conducted based on the 1951, 1961, and 1971 Census, but the number of Lok Sabha seats was frozen at 543 based on the 1971 Census to encourage population control measures.
- The freeze on seat adjustment remains in place until the first Census after 2026, necessitating a review thereafter.
Key Issues in Delimitation
1. Uneven Population Growth
- The population explosion over the last five decades has been uneven across states.
- Northern states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan have witnessed higher population growth.
- Southern states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh have controlled their population growth, raising concerns about their future representation.
2. Possible Scenarios for Redistribution
- Scenario 1: Maintain 543 Lok Sabha seats and redistribute them among states.
- Scenario 2: Increase the number of seats to 848 based on projected population.
- Home Minister Amit Shah has assured that no state’s representation will be reduced, but the method of determining ‘pro-rata’ distribution remains unclear.
- If redistribution is based purely on population, southern and smaller northern states (Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the Northeast) will see a decline in their political representation.
- This shift could undermine the federal structure of India’s polity and create political discontent in states that have successfully implemented population control.
Possible Solutions
- Capping Lok Sabha Seats at 543:
- India has functioned with 543 MPs for five decades, despite an increase in population from 55 crore to 145 crore.
- The U.S. has maintained 435 House Representatives since 1913, despite its population growing fourfold.
- Given that India’s population is projected to peak at 165-170 crore before declining, retaining 543 MPs ensures federal balance and stability.
- Increasing State Assembly Seats Instead:
- The number of MLAs in each state can be increased to accommodate democratic representation without altering Lok Sabha seats.
- This maintains regional autonomy while ensuring fair representation at the state level.
- Safeguarding Federalism:
- Regional and national political leaders, especially from southern and northeastern states, should advocate for status quo in Lok Sabha representation.
- This would prevent political marginalization of states that have adhered to national policies on population control.
The upcoming delimitation exercise is a crucial political and constitutional decision that will shape India’s federal structure. Maintaining 543 Lok Sabha seats while adjusting state-level representation through increased MLA seats could be a balanced approach to ensure equitable political representation. Leaders from affected states must engage in legislative advocacy to uphold their federal and political interests.
