New Delhi: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has expressed concerns that the proposed delimitation exercise could reduce the number of Lok Sabha seats in Southern states from 129 to 103, diminishing their representation in Parliament.

Chidambaram stated that the delimitation process, which was frozen in 1971, will be undertaken after the census in 2026. He warned that if seats are reallocated based on the current population, Southern states will lose 26 seats while populous states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan will gain.

"Delimitation is a serious issue. It was frozen in 1971. A census taken after 2026 will lead to delimitation, followed by re-determination of the seats. According to our calculation, if it is redistributed according to the current population of states, and the state's numbers are changed, our Southern states, which have 129 seats, will come down to 103. The five Southern states will lose 26 seats, whereas the populous states where population is growing will gain seats, especially UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan," he said.

He further pointed out that Southern states have stabilised their population growth, unlike their Northern counterparts.

"Northern states have not stabilised the population, and it will take time to stabilise. With 129, our voices are not heard in Parliament. In 103, it will become worse. We are opposing delimitation and re-determination based on the current population. Tamil Nadu will lose 8 seats if 543 constituencies are divided according to the current population," Chidambaram added.

Call for dialogue on delimitation
Chidambaram urged the central government to initiate discussions on the issue, arguing that India's population will not stabilise even in the next 30 years.

"Despite the Constitution saying that in 1977, we froze the population according to 1971. India's population will not be stabilised in 2026 and in another 30 years. The idea is to start a dialogue. The central government can't say that there will be no reduction. Even if Tamil Nadu's seats are at 39 and in UP it increases, whose voices will be heard? Southern states will lose their voice," he said.

Stalin calls for united opposition
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has called for a joint action by political parties against the proposed delimitation, warning that it would be a "blatant assault on federalism." He has scheduled a Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting in Chennai on March 22, inviting representatives from various parties to oppose the move.

"First JAC meeting in Chennai on March 22, 2025. Let us stand together not as separate political entities but as protectors of our people's future," Stalin wrote in a post on X.

With ANI inputs