New Delhi:The Women’s Reservation Bill, poised for implementation, is on the brink of reshaping India’s political terrain. Preceding its enactment, a comprehensive census and delimitation exercise are set to unfold, heralding a significant expansion of Lok Sabha seats, surging from the existing 543 to a substantial 753. This seismic shift is particularly discernible in Uttar Pradesh, an already formidable contributor to parliamentary representation. Conversely, the southern states are poised for marginal growth, potentially diminishing their share of representation and electoral sway.
With a projected population of 1.42 billion by 2026, India’s demographic landscape is paramount to the forthcoming delimitation process, which recalibrates constituency boundaries based on population metrics
Key Transformations
Karnataka: Envisaged to experience incremental growth, with Lok Sabha seats expanding from 28 to 36 by 2026, marking an addition of eight seats.
Telangana: Set to bolster its representation from 17 to 20 seats, paralleled by Andhra Pradesh’s ascent from 25 to 28 seats.
Tamil Nadu: Anticipated to reach 41 seats, up from the current 39.
Kerala: Bucking the trend, Kerala, renowned for its restrained population growth, is slated to observe a reduction in Lok Sabha seats, diminishing from 20 to 19.
In stark contrast, northern states, characterized by burgeoning populations, are poised for substantial representation augmentation:
Uttar Pradesh:Envisaged to expand from 80 to 128 seats.
Bihar:Set to elevate its seat count from 40 to 70.
Madhya Pradesh Currently housing 29 Lok Sabha seats, the state could potentially witness an increase to 47 following the delimitation.
Maharashtra: Projections indicate an upswing from 48 to 68 seats.
Rajasthan: Positioned to grow from 25 to 44 seats.
This pronounced regional variance in seat allocation is likely to provoke scrutiny and debate. Union Home Minister **Amit Shah** recently communicated in Lok Sabha that the census and delimitation processes would follow next year’s general election. Sources further hint at the government’s intent to address the representation imbalance between northern and southern states.
Of significant note, the number of Lok Sabha seats has remained static since 1977. The forthcoming delimitation process marks the fifth such exercise, with previous commissions convened in 1952, 1963, 1973, and 2002. Delimitation was notably absent post the 1981 and 1991 censuses. While it occurred subsequent to the 2001 census, seat numbers remained unaltered.
Upon the enactment of the Women’s Reservation Bill, Lok Sabha is poised to witness a substantial surge in female representation, catapulting from the current 82 to 181 seats. Furthermore, this landmark legislation will reserve 33 percent of seats for women in state assemblies.
The Delimitation Commission, presided over by the President, will work in close coordination with the Election Commission. Comprising retired Supreme Court judges, the commission’s determinations will be indisputable.