Thiruvananthapuram [India], April 15 (ANI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday strongly criticized the Centre over the proposed delimitation bill, stating that the legislation would undermine the federal structure of the country.
Vijayan said there is widespread concern that the move is aimed at converting the population advantage of northern states into greater representation in the Lok Sabha.
“There is widespread suspicion that this move is aimed at converting the population advantage of northern states into greater representation in the Lok Sabha, thereby consolidating political power for the long term. States like Kerala are likely to face the direct impact of this,” he said.
He added that states that have made progress in population control, education, healthcare, and women’s empowerment could be penalized under the proposed changes.
“Reduced representation and allocation cannot be considered a fair federal arrangement. The message that those who control population will lose, and those who do not will gain is dangerous for the future of Indian democracy,” the Chief Minister said.
Terming the proposed legislation a “double standard,” Vijayan argued that states that followed family planning policies may now face reduced representation in Parliament, while others could gain increased representation.
He also alleged that the Centre is using women’s reservation as a cover for the move, calling it a politically motivated step.
“Using issues like women’s reservation as a cover for such changes appears to be driven by narrow political interests. While ensuring political representation for women is essential, denying states equality and justice under this pretext amounts to an erosion of democracy,” he said.
Emphasizing the principles of federalism, Vijayan stated that democracy must be rooted in justice and balanced representation.
“In a federal India, all states must be ensured equal respect and reasonable representation. Otherwise, the delimitation bill will be seen as a shortcut to legitimize political dominance,” he added, urging the Centre to withdraw what he described as an anti-democratic move.
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, which provides for 33 percent reservation for women in legislatures, is linked to the delimitation process in the Lok Sabha.
The government is considering implementing women’s reservation ahead of the 2029 general elections by introducing amendments to the 2023 Act and a constitutional amendment to delink the delimitation process from the 2027 census.
According to sources, the proposal includes increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats to 850, with 815 seats allocated to states and 35 to Union Territories. The Lok Sabha currently has 543 seats. (ANI)
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