Delimitation row: Revanth Reddy wants current gap in seats be maintained, as 50% increase in Lok Sabha seats will leave South at a disadvantage

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has strongly criticized the Central government’s proposal to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats by 50% across all States, arguing that the move will disproportionately benefit the northern States while politically marginalizing the southern States.

In the central government’s new proposals, the total strength of the Lok Sabha is expected to increase to 816 from the existing 543 seats by adding 273 seats. Mr. Reddy opposed the idea of ​​imposing a uniform 50% hike in every State.

He argued that this approach would increase existing inequalities between States, particularly disadvantaging southern States. “The current representation gap between states needs to be maintained,” he said, adding: “This 50 percent overall increase will benefit the larger northern states while harming the southern states.”

Mr. Reddy cited Uttar Pradesh and Telangana as a clear example. Uttar Pradesh currently has 80 MPs and will increase by 50 per cent to 120 seats. Telangana, which currently has 17 seats, will only have 26 seats. According to the current framework, the difference between the two states is 63 seats; In the 50% model, this number will increase to 94 seats, which will give unnecessary advantage and influence to UP.

He also pointed out that other southern states such as Tamil Nadu (39 seats), Karnataka (28), Andhra Pradesh (25) and Kerala (20), which will see increases commensurate with their current allocations, will lag significantly behind the larger northern states.

If the 50% model is applied evenly, the five southern states would collectively win about 66 seats, taking the total seat count from 129 to 195. Mr. Reddy said relative imbalance was the key issue as the Indian belt and northern states would see an increase of around 142 seats.

He warned that when the numbers are broken down into exact northern and southern totals, the northern group would win more than 200 seats, which would drop the five Southern states into the political fold. “The composition of the Lok Sabha, which determines the composition of the central government, should not be skewed against any region.”

Mr. Reddy explained: “There is no objection to increasing the number of Assembly seats in the states, but Parliament is a different game as it shapes national governance and representation should reflect proportional balance.”

Mr. Reddy warned that public anger may increase over this ‘discrimination’ seen in Telangana during the Statehood agitation. He also criticized Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders K. Lakshman and Bandi Sanjay and accused them of blindly advocating the Centre’s proposal.