Telangana Assembly adopts resolution against taking up delimitation on population basis

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who moved the resolution, claimed that there is a possibility of the representation of southern states in Lok Sabha seats falling from 24 per cent to 19 per cent if delimitation is carried out on a population basis.

Hyderabad: In a significant political move, the Telangana Assembly passed a resolution on Thursday challenging the Union government's proposed delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies based on the upcoming 2026 population census. This resolution follows a recent Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting in Tamil Nadu demanding 'fair delimitation', which was attended by key political figures from the south including Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and BRS working president K T Rama Rao.

During the discussion on the resolution Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said the southern states implemented family planning strictly and will be at the receiving end if the delimitation is done on a population basis.

The Union government is making use of delimitation of constituencies to hold control of the southern states, he said. He urged all parties to stand united above politics and put pressure on the Centre on this issue. He observed that as per the AP Reorganization act, the delimitation of assembly constituencies in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh should be done in two Telugu states but it was not done until now. The Union Government is discriminating against Telangana.

The Centre replied to my question in the Parliament that delimitation of assembly constituencies will be done only after the 2026 census but it amended the Constitution and increased the number of assembly constituencies from 83 to 90 as per the 2011 census in Jammu and Kashmir, he said. In Sikkim, a resolution was passed in the Cabinet in 2018 and the process of delimitation of constituencies is being continued.

“Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi observed that the delimitation on population basis will ruin friendly and cordial relations between the states. It could be the reason laws are amended for delimitation at that time. Now again, a debate on delimitation of constituencies is being taken up and the Southern states are uncertain. We all should fight against the centre if the southern states meted out injustice in the delimitation process. The threat of declining south representation is not ruled out if the delimitation is done by taking population as main criteria. The Union Government is making use of delimitation of constituencies to hold control of the southern states. Moving this resolution in the Assembly to expose the double standards of the Centre. Let us all meet the central government on delimitation to safeguard the interests. Let us also take up the path of struggle, if necessary,” said Revanth Reddy.

The chief minister also said that they will soon hold a meeting with all parties under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka and senior leader K Jana Reddy and appealed to all parties to attend the meeting.

Responding to the resolution passed in Telangana assembly, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said as resolved in Chennai, fulfilled in Hyderabad.

Stalin in a post on social media platform X said Revanth has walked the talk by tabling and passing a landmark resolution in the #Telangana State Assembly demanding #FairDelimitation that upholds justice, equity and the federal spirit.

“Following Tamil Nadu’s lead, this act strengthens the collective call to resist any attempt that threatens the balance of our democracy. This is just the beginning. With the second #JointActionCommittee meeting set to take place in Hyderabad, more states will follow. We will not let anyone redraw India’s future unfairly,” said Stalin in the post.