Lokesh counters Tharoor on delimitation: Expanding Lok Sabha a democratic necessity
Andhra Pradesh IT Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national working president Nara Lokesh responded on social media to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's comments on the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies. In a series of posts on X, Lokesh argued that expanding the Lok Sabha is a democratic necessity rather than a political choice.
Lokesh stated that Article 81 of the Constitution envisages that Lok Sabha seats be allocated on the basis of population. He noted that the constitutional freeze on seat allocation linked to the 1971 Census was always temporary and is due to expire in 2026. Without any intervention, a fresh delimitation based on the 2026 Census would see several southern states face a sizeable reduction in their share of seats, Lokesh said. He attributed this situation to the Congress party's opposition to the relevant Bill.
Lokesh highlighted that India in 2026 is not India in 1971, as the population has grown from about 55 crore to nearly 146 crore. Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha membership has remained virtually unchanged, meaning the average MP now represents nearly 2.5 times as many citizens as when the freeze was imposed. He argued that expanding the House is essential to maintain equitable representation.
To avoid penalising states that have achieved population stabilisation, Lokesh proposed retaining each state's proportional share of seats while increasing the total number of seats. This, he said, is a reasonable and balanced approach that protects states that have acted responsibly while improving representation for all Indians.
Lokesh also addressed the constitutional principle of equal voting weight. He asserted that no state has a constitutional right to greater representation per voter than another. The Constitution's objective, he said, is that every citizen's vote should carry, as nearly as practicable, equal weight. The continuation of the present proportional balance is not a constitutional entitlement but the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) way of ensuring that responsible states are not disadvantaged.
Responding to a hypothetical scenario posed by Tharoor, Lokesh argued that parliamentary influence ultimately flows from votes on the floor of the House. Whether a simple or two-thirds majority is required, a proportionate increase for all states leaves those equations unchanged. If everyone receives the same proportional increase, nobody gains an advantage over anyone else, he concluded.
