Karti Chidambaram warns against increasing LS seats, says it could widen North-South gap
Sivaganga, Aug 9
Congress MP Karti P. Chidambaram on Sunday cautioned against increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha as part of the proposed delimitation exercise, arguing that a proportional expansion of seats could further widen the numerical gap in parliamentary representation between Tamil Nadu and more populous states such as Uttar Pradesh.
Speaking in Sivaganga, Chidambaram said the existing 543-member Lok Sabha already left MPs with limited opportunities to participate in debates, and an increase in its strength would not necessarily improve parliamentary functioning.
Explaining his concerns, the Sivaganga MP pointed out that Tamil Nadu and Puducherry together currently account for 40 Lok Sabha constituencies, compared with Uttar Pradesh's 80. If the number of constituencies were increased uniformly by 50 per cent, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry would have around 60 seats while Uttar Pradesh would rise to 120, he said.
Though the proportion between the two would remain unchanged, the numerical difference would increase from the present 40 seats to 60, Chidambaram said, stressing that absolute numbers were also significant in a parliamentary democracy.
His remarks came a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay convened a meeting of MPs in Chennai on Saturday to discuss the implications of the proposed delimitation exercise and formulate a common position to protect the State's parliamentary representation.
The meeting focused on concerns that Tamil Nadu could lose its relative influence in Parliament if Lok Sabha seats were redistributed primarily on the basis of population. Participants argued that states such as Tamil Nadu, which had successfully implemented population-control measures over several decades, should not be penalised through a reduction in their relative representation.
The delimitation issue has emerged as a significant political concern in Tamil Nadu, with parties warning that a population-based redistribution could substantially increase the parliamentary strength of more populous northern states.
Southern states have repeatedly argued that demographic performance and success in controlling population growth should be taken into account while deciding the future allocation of parliamentary seats.
Chidambaram's intervention adds another dimension to the debate by questioning whether simply increasing the overall size of the Lok Sabha would adequately safeguard Tamil Nadu's interests.
He maintained that preserving the existing proportional ratio alone would not fully address the concern, since a larger numerical advantage for heavily populated states could have significant consequences when decisions are determined by absolute numbers in Parliament.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Karti Chidambaram raises a valid point about the numerical gap. Even if the ratio stays the same, having 60 seats difference vs 40 seats difference is a huge change in parliamentary dynamics. The South will lose its voice completely. Already many policies are Delhi-centric, this will make it worse.
I understand the concern from Tamil Nadu, but don't we need to think about the whole country? Every state should have representation proportional to its population. That's how democracy works. If some states have more people, they naturally get more seats. But I do agree that simply increasing total seats won't solve the core problem.
The CM's meeting was important, but I'm not sure just having meetings will change anything. The northern states have the numbers, and in a democracy, numbers matter. Unless we amend the constitution to give more weightage to development indicators rather than just population, the South will always be at a disadvantage. 😔
I appreciate that Chidambaram is thinking beyond the simple "we want more seats" argument. His point about absolute numbers makes sense - it's like saying if you have 40 apples and someone else has 80, you're already behind, but if it becomes 60 vs 120, the gap just gets wider. The federal balance is at stake here.
As someone from TN, I feel this is a legitimate concern. We've done our part in controlling population, investing in education and healthcare, and now we're being told our voice will matter less. Maybe instead of increasing seats based on population, we should think about giving states equal representation in the Rajya
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.