The proposed exercise by the Narendra Modi on delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies and linking it to the women’s reservation bill has kicked up a nation-wide debate, even as the Lok Sabha began discussing the legislations on Thursday.
The move is being strongly resisted by the southern states, which fear that population-based seat allocation would reduce their representation in Parliament, as they have successfully implemented population control measures compared to northern states.
Leaders including Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin, Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy, BRS leader K T Rama Rao, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi and Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan have voiced strong opposition, calling for alternative criteria such as development indicators rather than population alone.
Since the Telugu Desam Party and Jana Sena Party are part of the NDA both in the state and the Centre, they naturally supported the bill without even putting up any resistance and talking about the concerns of other southern states.
However, the stance of the YSR Congress Party has come under sharp criticism. Contrary to other southern parties, the YSRCP has extended unconditional support to the Centre’s proposal.
During the voting on introduction of delimitation and women’s reservation bills in Lok Sabha on Thursday, the YSRCP members voted in favour of the government, thereby indicating that the party is not bothered about the injustice done to the South India.
YSRCP leader Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy argued that delimitation would create opportunities for youth and new leadership, enable smaller constituencies, and improve governance efficiency.
Political analysts suggest that party chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy may be pursuing a strategic alignment with the BJP-led Centre to maintain political leverage after losing power in the state.
Supporting delimitation could help him strengthen ties with national leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
At the same time, analysts note that delimitation presents an opportunity for internal party restructuring, allowing YSRCP to accommodate new leaders and increase social representation across constituencies.
Analysts say had Jagan at least raised his concerns over the injustice to be done to the southern states due to delimitation, he would have got a lot of support from the intellectual class and even women voters.
“But, it appears he is viewing it only in the angle of getting some political benefit by appeasing Modi and Shah,” an analyst observed.