Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has reached out to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, urging a united stand from southern states against the Centre’s proposed move to increase legislative seats.
Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has written to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, seeking support against the Centre’s proposed plan to increase the number of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in connection with delimitation and women’s reservation.
Reddy has called for southern states to come together, arguing that the move could alter the balance of political representation in the country.
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Concerns over seat expansion plan
In his letter, Revanth Reddy raised concerns about proposals to increase Lok Sabha seats from the current strength based on population data. He argued that linking delimitation with women’s reservation could create an imbalance between states.
He said southern states that have achieved better population control may end up being “politically penalised” under a purely population-based formula.
Call for separate discussion on women’s reservation
The Telangana Chief Minister also stated that the Women’s Reservation Bill should be implemented independently using the current Lok Sabha strength of 543 seats.
He stressed that women’s political empowerment is a priority and should not be delayed or tied to structural changes in parliamentary representation.
Reddy has proposed an all-party meeting to build consensus on delimitation and related reforms. He suggested that a hybrid model could be considered, balancing population with economic contribution and development indicators.
He also warned that rushing reforms without consensus could deepen regional disparities between North and South India.
The issue has triggered wider political debate, with some parties accusing the Centre of pushing reforms without adequate consultation.
Reddy has also reportedly reached out to other southern leaders, including those in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, seeking coordinated opposition to the proposed changes.
Background: Long-standing north-south debate
The delimitation issue has historically been sensitive in Indian politics, particularly for southern states that argue they may lose representation despite stronger performance in population control and development indicators.
The current debate has revived these concerns, especially in the context of expanding parliamentary seats and implementing women’s reservation.
The exchange highlights growing regional political alignment among southern states on representation issues. The Centre’s final approach to delimitation and seat distribution is expected to be a major point of political negotiation in the coming months.
Published: 14 Apr 2026, 10:34 pm IST
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