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Telangana Minister Defends Southern States' Demand for Fair Lok Sabha Seats

Telangana Minister D. Sridhar Babu has strongly defended demands from Southern states for equitable representation in the Lok Sabha during the upcoming delimitation process. He argued that simply increasing the total number of seats does not address the core issue of proportional political representation for states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. The Minister stated that concerns over larger northern states potentially doubling their seats could marginalize southern voices in national politics. This follows Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's call for a struggle to ensure seat allocation is based on a pro-rata principle.

Key Points: Southern States Demand Equitable Lok Sabha Representation

  • Southern states seek fair seat allocation
  • Delimitation may double some states' seats
  • Demand based on pro-rata principle
  • Concerns over democratic space in national politics
2 min read

"Is it crime to demand equitable representation in Lok Sabha?": Telangana Minister Sridhar Babu on delimitation

Telangana Minister Sridhar Babu calls for fair delimitation, arguing Southern states deserve proportional representation in Parliament.

"Is it a crime to demand a proper and equitable representation of our people in the Lok Sabha? - D. Sridhar Babu"

Hyderabad, April 17

Telangana Minister D. Sridhar Babu on Friday said demands for equitable representation in the Lok Sabha were being wrongly portrayed, asserting that it is a legitimate constitutional right of states.

"Is it a fault to demand a proper and equitable representation of our people in the Lok Sabha? Is it a crime? We are just demanding our equal rights in the Indian Union of States, and we have every right to ask for it. That is the reason our Chief Minister was speaking about it," he said.

He further said concerns over proportional representation were being ignored.

"They were just speaking on the numbers, just imagining a big state having about 85 to 100 seats becoming almost double to 170 seats. Is it comparable at all? That does not give equitable democratic space in national politics. That is what we are demanding legitimately," Sridhar Babu said.

Sridhar Babu added that the Centre must address the concerns of the southern states.

"It is the duty of the government to answer the apprehensions of people of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala or Tamil Nadu. We are relentlessly asking the central government. Increasing numbers or doubling seats does not suffice our political representation," he said.

Earlier, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Tuesday called for a protracted struggle against the Union government, demanding that seats in Southern states be allocated based on the pro-rata principle during the delimitation of constituencies.

Meanwhile, Lok Sabha is continuing its discussion and vote on the passage of the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, which provides 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and State Assemblies, along with the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) bill, 2026 extending it to Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir, and the Delimitation Bill, which is set to increase and redraw Lok Sabha constituencies, increasing them to 850.

Earlier on Thursday, the Lok Sabha held a marathon 12-hour session to discuss the amendments to the women's reservation bill, which removes the need to implement the bill only after the census is conducted.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While I understand the concern, we must also think about national unity. Delimitation is a complex issue. Simply doubling seats for bigger states isn't the answer, but neither is ignoring population growth. A balanced approach is needed, not rhetoric.
A
Aditya G
Finally, someone is saying it loud! Southern states have controlled their population growth as per national policy for decades. Now we are being penalised for it with less political power? Where is the justice? This is a legitimate constitutional fight. ✊
S
Sarah B
As an observer, this seems like a critical debate for Indian federalism. The principle of equitable representation vs. proportional representation based on population is a challenge many large democracies face. Hope the discussion remains constructive.
K
Karthik V
The timing is interesting with the Women's Reservation Bill also being discussed. Both are about fair representation. Maybe the solution lies in a new formula that considers population, area, *and* development parameters? Just a thought.
N
Nisha Z
Calling for a "protracted struggle" sounds too confrontational. This should be resolved through dialogue in Parliament, not on the streets. The minister makes a valid point, but the CM's language is not helpful for finding a middle ground.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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