Delimitation shouldn't diminish representation of any state in LS, RS: Jagan Reddy to PM Modi

The former CM's appeal comes amid discussions on the delimitation process, which is expected to take place after the 2026 census.

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that the upcoming delimitation exercise does not lead to any state losing its representation in Parliament.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister on Saturday, Reddy underscored the gravity of the issue, warning that any reduction in the number of Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha seats for a state could disrupt the country's social and political harmony.

The opposition leader highlighted the importance of conducting the delimitation process in a manner that maintains the existing proportional representation of states in both Houses of Parliament. He emphasized that any change in the allocation of parliamentary seats could create disparities among states, impacting their political influence at the national level.

"The delimitation exercise should be conducted in such a manner that no state would have to endure any reduction in its representation in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha, in terms of its share in the total number of seats in the House," Reddy stated in his letter.

Reddy urged the Centre to consider amending the Constitution to prevent any state from suffering a reduction in its parliamentary representation. He stressed that safeguarding the current distribution of seats would ensure a fair and balanced approach to governance, preventing regional disparities and maintaining federal unity.

The former Chief Minister’s appeal comes amid discussions on the delimitation process, which is expected to take place after the 2026 census. The exercise aims to redefine parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on population growth patterns. However, concerns have been raised, particularly by southern states, that they might lose seats due to lower population growth rates compared to northern states.

The issue of delimitation has been a subject of debate, with several regional leaders expressing apprehensions about a potential shift in political power toward states with higher population growth rates.