Telangana gets more seats in Centre’s delimitation plan
HYDERABAD: The Union government plans to increase the number of Lok Sabha and state Assembly constituencies by 50 per cent. The proposal is likely to be introduced during the current Parliament session.
Under the plan, Lok Sabha seats will increase from 543 to 816. Assembly seats across the country will rise from 4,123 to 6,185.
Telangana gains in proposed constituency expansion plan
In Telangana, Assembly constituencies are expected to increase from 110 to 170. Lok Sabha seats in the state may rise from 17 to 20.
The Centre shared details of the proposal with allies at a National Democratic Alliance meeting on Monday evening. The meeting was led by Union home minister Amit Shah, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju and law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.
Separate consultations were also held with non-Congress opposition parties. Shah is likely to hold talks with the Congress as well.
Amendments likely to enable delimitation and women’s quota rollout
The government is learnt to be planning amendments to the Women’s Reservation Act and the delimitation law to facilitate the increase in constituencies. After Parliament approves the proposal, the Centre may set up a delimitation commission and implement the revised seat structure in the 2029 general elections.
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes reservations are also expected to increase in proportion to the new constituencies.
According to earlier provisions, delimitation was to be carried out based on population data published after 2026. This had led to expectations that women’s reservation would take effect only from 2034.
With the Census likely to be completed by March 1, 2027, the Centre may release provisional population figures and begin the delimitation process earlier. Efforts are under way to build consensus among political parties on this issue.
Southern political parties had expressed concern that seat increases based strictly on population growth could widen disparities between northern and southern states. The proposed uniform 50 per cent increase across all states is expected to retain existing levels of political representation.
Opposition leaders are scheduled to meet on Tuesday under Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss the proposal.
