Explained | The delimitation exercise and the concerns of southern states

An all-party meeting convened by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on March 5 asked the Union government to suspend the delimitation exercise scheduled for 2026 and to freeze the number and state-wise distribution of Lok Sabha seats for another 30 years. Not just Tamil Nadu, other southern states — Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Telangana — also fear that the exercise, if conducted solely based on population, will diminish their political representation in Parliament. E T B Sivapriyan explains the process and concerns of southern states.

What is delimitation and how is it carried out?

Delimitation, mandated by the Constitution, should be carried out after every census to determine the number of seats and redraw the boundaries of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies. It also identifies seats for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities.

The Union government, according to the Constitution, should constitute a Delimitation Commission of India by an Act of Parliament, chaired by a retired Supreme Court judge. India’s Chief Election Commissioner and Chief Electoral Officers of all states will be members of the commission.

The first delimitation commission, established in 1952, set the number of Lok Sabha seats at 494 based on the 1951 Census. The second commission in 1963, using the 1961 Census, increased the number to 522, while the third commission in 1973 raised the number of Lok Sabha seats to 543.

Why was a freeze on the delimitation exercise enforced?

During the Emergency, the Congress government led by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi amended the Constitution (42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976) to freeze the delimitation of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies until the 2001 Census, as part of efforts to encourage population control measures. As a result, the Delimitation Commissions were not constituted following the 1981 and 1991 censuses.

Why was the freeze on the Delimitation exercise extended until 2026?

The number of Lok Sabha seats was fixed at 543 in 1973, based on India's population of 54.8 crore (as per the 1971 Census). While southern states successfully implemented population control measures, their northern counterparts lagged behind.

Apprehending a big loss in political representation, the southern states opposed the constitution of a delimitation commission after the 2001 Census, which put India’s population at 100 crore. In response, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee extended the freeze until 2026 by amending the Constitution (84th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002). While the fourth Delimitation Commission was constituted in 2002, it limited its role to redrawing the boundaries of Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies based on the 2001 Census.

What will happen in 2026?

Once the freeze on the number and state-wise distribution of seats ends in 2026, the Union government will be required to constitute a Delimitation Commission. However, the timeline for this exercise remains unclear, as it should follow the completion of the next census.

What are the demands of the southern States?

Southern states argue that a delimitation exercise based solely on population will reduce their political representation in Parliament. They question why they should be penalised for successfully implementing population control measures, while states that have not made similar efforts will be rewarded.

The southern states want the freeze to be extended till 2056, to allow for proper implementation of population stabilisation measures in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand.

If the number of seats remains fixed at 543 and delimitation is based on post-2026 population figures, southern India could lose over 20 seats, which may be redistributed to northern states. Even with an increase to 848 seats, Uttar Pradesh could gain over 60, while the entire southern region would receive fewer than 40 additional seats.

What are the options before the Centre?

The Centre’s stance on the issue remains unclear. The only official statement so far came from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who assured that no southern state would lose seats but would instead gain additional constituencies on a pro-rata basis. However, political parties are seeking clarity on whether the pro-rata distribution will be based on the current seat percentage or on the population figures.