Telangana CM Revanth Reddy calls for increased Southern representation in Lok Sabha to 33%
Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy Anumula, on March 22, 2025, has called for southern states and political parties to set aside their differences and unite in opposition to the reorganization of Lok Sabha constituencies. He announced that Telangana would soon pass a resolution on the matter in the state legislative assembly and urged other states to do the same.
Revanth Reddy made these remarks during the first meeting of the Joint Action Committee for Fair Delimitation, organized by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in Chennai. He highlighted the need for a unified effort against the proposed reorganization, which he argued could weaken the southern states politically.
The Chief Minister stated that the next meeting would be held in Hyderabad, and a large public gathering would be organized to mobilize citizens to join the cause. He expressed his gratitude to MK Stalin for bringing all southern states together and called on them to fight unitedly for their rights.
The central issue revolves around the proposed reorganization of constituencies based on population. Southern states, which have adhered to population control measures since 1971, argue that the proposed changes would diminish their political power. These states point out that larger northern states, such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which have not implemented population control measures, would gain disproportionately from the reorganization.
Revanth Reddy highlighted the economic contributions of southern states, stating that while they contribute significantly to the central treasury, they receive much less in return. For instance, Tamil Nadu contributes one rupee to the central government but receives only 29 paise back, while Uttar Pradesh receives 2.73 rupees, Telangana gets 40 rupees and Bihar 6.06 rupees for every rupee contributed. He also noted the steady decline in central government allocations to southern states, citing the National Health Mission as an example where northern states receive the majority of the funding.
“We are one country, and we respect it, but we cannot accept this reorganization. It is politically aimed at weakening the southern states. This process punishes those that have made significant progress. We need to prevent this unfair reorganization,” he said.
The Chief Minister called for the reorganization process to be carried out without increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats, as was done under the leadership of Indira Gandhi in 1976 and again under Atal Behari Vajpayee in 2001. Southern states oppose any reorganization based solely on population, arguing that such a move would reduce their political influence and favor the northern states. They warned that if the reorganization proceeds as proposed, states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh would dominate the political landscape, undermining the interests of the southern states.
Southern leaders also expressed opposition to the Pro-rata system, which they believe would further harm their political standing by creating disparities in seat allocation.
In response to these concerns, Revanth Reddy and other southern leaders have called for a fair distribution of Lok Sabha seats. They suggest that no changes be made to the number of Lok Sabha seats for the next 25 years. The reorganization should proceed based on the current number of seats, with boundaries adjusted according to the population of cities and villages. They also argue for an increase in the number of reserved seats for SC/STs and the provision of 33% reservations for women in Lok Sabha constituencies.
Southern states further demand a more equitable share of parliamentary seats to reflect their progress. They advocate that southern states should receive 33% of the total Lok Sabha seats after reorganization. If the total number of Lok Sabha seats increases by 50% to 815, they propose that 272 seats be allocated to the southern states, to be distributed among Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry.
Revanth Reddy also explained the need for the central government to stop penalizing southern states for their success in population control. He stressed that these states, having made significant progress in economic growth and governance, should be rewarded with fair political representation, not reduced to a disadvantaged position.
BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) also spoke out against the reorganization, asserting that southern states should not be penalized for their economic achievements. He pointed out that Telangana, though only 2.8% of India’s population, contributes 5.2% of the country’s GDP. “India is a Union of states. Federalism is not a gift; it is our right!” he said, arguing that southern states should not be undermined in their representation in Parliament. KTR also criticized the central government for rewarding lagging states and penalizing high-performing ones. “This is not just an imbalance; it is a political and fiscal centralization that is looming large,” he added.
Opposition Leaders Convene in Chennai for ‘Fair Delimitation’ Summit#Chennai, In a significant display of opposition unity, leaders from various states gathered in Chennai today for the inaugural Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting on “Fair Delimitation,” convened by Tamil… pic.twitter.com/VgFsqEqQsF
— Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) March 22, 2025
Telangana CM opposes population-based delimitation at Chennai meet
Chennai: South will not accept population-based delimitation, said Telangana CM Revanth Reddy while addressing the JAC meeting on ‘Fair Delimitation’ in Chennai on Saturday.
He said southern states should not… pic.twitter.com/UIKLcrmW2A
— Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) March 22, 2025
