Published Mar 25, 2026 | 1:39 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 25, 2026 | 1:39 PM
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy
Synopsis: A Revanth Reddy said the proposed delimitation exercise and the reported move to increase the seats in Parliament by 50% could politically marginalise southern states in national decision-making. He called for collective resistance by the southern states. He urged Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Puducherry to unite and prepare for a political fight on the issue.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday, 24 March, made a strong pitch against the proposed delimitation exercise and the reported move to increase the seats in Parliament by 50%, warning that such a step could politically marginalise southern states in national decision-making.
Reddy’s statement came on the same day on which his Tamil Nadu counterpart, MK Stalin, urged the Centre to convene a special session of Parliament in June to enact constitutional amendments for delimitation. In a social media post, he had also demanded a guarantee that the current share of representation of states would continue for the next 30 years.
Speaking at a debate in Delhi, Reddy said that any increase in Lok Sabha seats must be carried out without widening the existing gap between northern and southern states.
“If seats are increased, the current disparity between North and South should remain proportionate. Otherwise, it will tilt the balance irreversibly,” he said.
He alleged that the Centre, led by Narendra Modi, was showing “clear bias” against southern states. He cautioned that a population-based increase in seats would disproportionately benefit northern states, allowing them to form governments at the Centre without meaningful representation from the South.
“An arbitrary 50% increase in seats is like a final bullet. It raises serious questions—what is the basis for such a decision?” he asked. Reddy added that if northern states see a sharper rise in seats, “the need for southern states in forming the Union government will diminish,” thereby weakening federal balance.
Calling for collective resistance, Reddy urged southern states—including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Puducherry—to unite and prepare for a political fight on the issue.
“This is not just about numbers; it is about safeguarding the voice and rights of southern India,” he said.
The Chief Minister also questioned the Centre’s approach to political representation, alleging that leaders from southern states were being sidelined in key national positions. He cited the example of M Venkaiah Naidu, asking why leaders from the South were not given top roles such as the Home Minister or the President.
Reddy contrasted this with the Congress era, noting that leaders from southern states had held prominent constitutional positions.
The Telangana Chief Minister further alleged that the Centre was favouring certain regions, particularly Gujarat, in terms of investments and policy incentives.
“Investors are being directed towards Gujarat with tax benefits, while Telangana and other states are overlooked,” he said.
Reddy said the delimitation issue would be a key campaign theme in the upcoming elections across southern states. “We will take this issue to the people. The NDA government is widening the divide between North and South,” he alleged.
He also made it clear that his role in national politics would depend on the party leadership, but indicated his ambition to shape the national discourse. “The party will decide my role, but I will continue to work for Telangana and for a more balanced India,” he said.
The recent newspaper reports indicate that women’s representation in Parliament and Legislative Assemblies is being considered based on the 2011 Census.
This step is not in line with The Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023 passed by the Union BJP Government and its earlier… https://t.co/MxeW5vQ2O0
— M.K.Stalin – தமிழ்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@mkstalin) March 24, 2026
Referring to recent news reports on women’s representation in Parliament and Legislative Assemblies being considered based on the 2011 Census, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin said it contradicted the Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Union government’s earlier position to take up the initiative only after delimitation is carried out based on the Census conducted after 2026.
“This is most probably aimed at securing electoral gains in the forthcoming Assembly elections in four major States. Pushing such an important step when the Model Code of Conduct is already in force is unprecedented,” he said in an X post on Tuesday, 24 March.
He further added that he was in support of women’s reservation “without any preconditions, while at the same time stressing our right to fair delimitation.”
“It is our consistent stand that the current proportional representation of States should not be disturbed under any circumstances. To achieve this, the delimitation and distribution of constituencies among States must include a constitutional provision ensuring the same for the next 30 years.
Considering the current Model Code of Conduct and the preoccupation of political parties, I request that a Special Session of Parliament be convened in early June to enact these historic constitutional amendments for delimitation, increase of seats, continuation of the current share of representation of States, and a guarantee that such representation will continue for the next 30 years,” he added.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
