No Delimitation Without Consensus, CM Tells PM

In his letter, Revanth Reddy suggested that half of the proposed increase in the Lok Sabha seats be allocated on a pro rata basis and the remaining half be allotted based on the economic contribution of states, such as Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and other performance indicators.

In his letter to the Prime Minister, Revanth Reddy urged the Centre to build a national political consensus on the proposed increase in Lok Sabha seats, while separating the issues of women’s reservation and delimitation. He said the proposal to increase Lok Sabha seats to 850 on a pro rata population basis was the core contentious issue, warning that such a move could disturb the federal balance and politically disadvantage southern states.

He informed Modi that the Congress fully supports the immediate implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats and state Assemblies, without linking it to any increase in the number of seats. Revanth Reddy noted that delimitation can be carried out as done in the past by redrawing constituency boundaries without altering the total number of seats. He recalled that leaders like Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee had deferred delimitation for national integration.

He argued that southern India has made significant contributions to population stabilisation, public health and human development, in line with national priorities, but now risk being penalised under a population-based seat expansion model.

The Chief Minister also pointed to existing financial disparities, stating that states like Telangana receive less than their contribution to the national exchequer, unlike some northern states, and warned that the proposed changes would add political injustice to ongoing fiscal imbalances. He said a pro rata model would lead to a disproportionate increase in representation for states with higher population growth, effectively rewarding demographic expansion while penalising progress.

Drawing from principles highlighted in judicial rulings on balancing reservation and merit, and invoking the ideas of Swami Vivekananda, Revanth Reddy said such a model would ensure fairness, equity and balanced representation for all regions. Stressing the need for inclusive decision-making, the Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister to convene an all-party meeting with representatives from all states to deliberate on the issue and arrive at a consensus.

He cautioned that proceeding without addressing the concerns of southern states could lead to widespread opposition, underlining that the matter is crucial to preserving the unity, fairness and integrity of the nation. Revanth called for a united front among southern states against the Centre’s proposed pro rata model for increasing Lok Sabha seats, warning that it would adversely impact their political representation and federal balance.

The CM recalled Stalin’s earlier initiative in convening the Chennai Delimitation Conclave in March 2025, which had helped stall a population-based model, and alleged that the Centre under Modi is now attempting to achieve similar outcomes through a pro rata approach.

He stressed that issues such as women’s reservation, delimitation, and increase in Lok Sabha seats are separate and should not be conflated, reiterating support for 33 per cent reservation for women and delimitation without increasing seats. Describing the proposed expansion of Lok Sabha seats to around 850 as the key concern, Revanth Reddy argued that a pro rata system would widen the gap in representation between states.