KTR criticised the Centre for freezing parliamentary seats for 50 years and punishing southern states for their population control success, calling it unjust. He argued these states deserve encouragement for their contributions
Published Mar 22, 2025 | 5:17 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 22, 2025 | 5:17 PM
KTR calls delimitation move a threat to South India's future (@BRSparty on X)
Synopsis: BRS working president KT Rama Rao raised concerns over the delimitation process, calling it a threat to southern India’s future. Speaking at ‘Fair Delimitation’ conference hosted by DMK, he criticised the policy for undermining the region’s economic contributions, governance, and democratic representation. He accused the central government of long-standing discrimination against southern states, urging a reconsideration to avoid authoritarianism.
BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Saturday, 22 March, expressed serious concerns over the potential fallout of the ongoing delimitation process in southern India.
Speaking at the conclave on Fair Delimitation at Chennai, he termed it as a threat to the future of southern states. He warned that the current policy risks undermine south’s economic contributions, governance achievements, and democratic representation, while accusing the central government of perpetuating decades of discrimination against the region.
He said: “India is a democratic nation, but it is also a federal union of diverse identities and cultures. We must not forget this.” He urged the central government to reconsider its approach to avoid turning democracy into authoritarian mobocracy.
KTR expressed dismay at the potential consequences of delimitation, asserting that southern states, which have excelled in population control and economic development, are being unfairly penalised. “For decades, southern states have faced discrimination from the Centre. The current delimitation proposals will not only reduce our parliamentary representation but also inflict injustice across all sectors,” he said.
KTR presented alternative approaches on behalf of the BRS. He suggested that instead of increasing parliamentary seats based solely on population, the Centre should maintain the current number of Lok Sabha seats while increasing MLA seats in state assemblies to improve governance efficiency. Alternatively, he proposed that delimitation should factor in a state’s economic progress, administrative efficiency, and developmental achievements rather than just population metric.
“If the Centre’s goal is better governance and representation, it must explore alternatives that don’t sow discord between states,” he urged. He highlighted that southern states contribute 36 percent to India’s GDP despite constituting only 19 percent of the population.
In his critique of the Centre, he argued that freezing parliamentary seats for 50 years based on population and now punishing southern states for their success in population control is grossly unjust. “Southern states do not deserve punishment; they deserve encouragement for their contributions to India’s growth,” he asserted. He warned that the current delimitation policy risks creating a divide where developed states lose out while lagging regions gain disproportionately, a move he called detrimental to India’s aspiration of becoming a superpower.
Addressing the media later, KTR reiterated that southern states are not opposed to aiding underdeveloped regions but firmly reject discriminatory treatment in fund allocation and representation. “History will not forgive us if we remain silent. Future generations will question our inaction,” he said, signalling a readiness to fight for the rights of southern states. He also criticised the BJP-led central government for exacerbating regional disparities, citing examples like the allocation of bullet train projects exclusively to northern states while southern states are overlooked.
In an impassioned plea, KTR said, “We are all Indians, but our regional identities and contributions must be respected. India can only become a superpower by 2047 if states driving progress are rewarded, not penalised.”
The conference marks the beginning of a broader movement, with KTR hinting at more such gatherings to challenge the Centre’s delimitation policy and safeguard southern India’s interests.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
