Delimitation: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah calls PM’s comments timed at assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, Kerala
In his statement, Siddaramaiah said that he welcomed the Prime Minister’s break of silence on the issue, but questioned his timing and intention. “This sudden concern to reassure Southern states sounds more like election-focused messaging than statesmanship,” he said.
The CM emphasized that the debate is not about whether the number of Lok Sabha seats will increase or not, but about the manner and distribution of this increase. He argued that the proposed expansion disproportionately benefits BJP-ruled or BJP-dominated states.
Citing estimates, Siddaramaiah said states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat are likely to see significantly higher increases in the number of seats in parliament compared to southern states. In contrast, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala will see relatively smaller gains, he said.
According to him, the five southern states combined will win around 63-66 seats, while the northern and western seven states combined will win around 128-131 seats; This is almost twice the increase.
“Even if the Lok Sabha expands to 816 seats, the share of southern states will remain around 24%, which is already a modest figure,” he said, adding that states that perform better on population control and governance risk being disadvantaged.
Siddaramaiah also noted a widening gap in representation. “The seat gap between Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka is expected to widen further, just like Maharashtra’s superiority over Karnataka. This is not just a widening but also a concentration of power.” Describing the practice as a deviation from cooperative federalism, the CM claimed that the proposed changes could weaken the voice of the southern states. He called for wider consultations and public debate before making any structural changes to parliamentary representation.
“The people of Karnataka and those who believe in federalism deserve justice, transparency and respect. We will oppose any move that will weaken our voice,” he added.
