Kerala CM Urges PM Modi To Gain Consensus For Lok Sabha Delimitation

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called on the Union government to approach the delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies with consensus, warning against punishing states that effectively controlled population growth. In a statement issued Friday, Vijayan argued that reducing the proportional representation of such states in Parliament would be unjust, effectively rewarding those that failed to implement family planning policies post-independence.

Vijayan emphasized that delimitation—last conducted in 1952, 1963, and 1973—was frozen in 1976 via the 42nd Constitutional Amendment until after the 2001 census to encourage population control. The 84th Amendment extended this freeze to post-2026 (2031) due to persistent population disparities. He criticized the Union’s recent push as hasty, ignoring this framework.

The Chief Minister expressed skepticism about claims that south Indian states would gain seats pro-rata, noting ambiguity over whether this would reflect current parliamentary seats or population figures. “In either scenario, South Indian states stand to lose representation,” he cautioned, urging the Centre to clarify its stance and address regional concerns.

Vijayan stressed that unilateral moves would undermine democracy and federalism, urging the Union to ensure no state’s existing seat share is diminished. “States like Kerala, which aligned with national population control goals, should not face penalties,” he said. His remarks highlight growing tensions between southern states and the Centre over equitable representation as the delimitation debate intensifies ahead of the 2031 census deadline.