Revanth Reddy wants South representation in Lok Sabha to be increased from 24% to 33%

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, right, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar and others during the first Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting of States over the proposed delimitation of Parliamentary seats by the Centre, in Chennai, on March 22, 2025
| Photo Credit: PTI

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy demanded that the representation of Southern States in Lok Sabha be increased from the existing 24% to 33% and if that has to be achieved there should be a collective effort from all affected States.

Speaking at the Joint Action Committee against Delimitation in Chennai on Saturday (March 22, 2025), he said Southern States representation is limited to just 130 seats out of the 543 seats. “This is a mere 24% and anything less would reduce South to the role of a passive audience in the political theatre of India,” he said.

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Appreciating the initiative by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, he offered to hold the next meeting of Southern States and Punjab in Hyderabad. “We will discuss how to take the fight forward. I will organise a public meeting of all leaders. Please join us there to continue this fight,” he said.

Mr. Reddy said that the country faces a big challenge with the BJP implementing a policy of ‘demographic penalty’.

“Since 1971, when India decided to adopt family planning as a national priority, South India has done very well, but big States in North India have failed.”

‘Spectacular South’

In contrast, South India turned a “Spectacular South” and achieved fastest economic growth, higher GDP and per capita income, jobs creation, best infrastructure development, better governance and best social welfare.

The Chief Minister reiterated his earlier allegations stating that South gets much lesser than what it contributes to the national exchequer. For example ₹1 tax paid by Tamil Nadu gets back 26 paisa and similarly Karnataka gets 16 paisa, Telangana gets 42 paisa and Kerala gets 49 paisa.

But at the same time, when Bihar pays ₹1 tax, it gets ₹6.06, Uttar Pradesh ₹2.03 and Madhya Pradesh gets ₹1.73. This disparity is what concerns the country and this needs to be set right.

If population is the criterion for delimitation Southern States cannot accept as it limits them politically. “It will punish us for emerging as performing States. We have to stop BJP from implementing any unfair delimitation.”

Mr. Reddy reminded that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi took up delimitation without increasing seats because it would create an imbalance of political power between States. In 2001, the NDA government led by Atal Behari Vajpayee also took up the delimitation exercise in States without increasing seats.

Mr. Reddy wanted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to do the same. A message must be sent to the PM that South will not accept population-based delimitation, he said.

He said the pro-rata formula will also hurt the South as it change the power gap. He reminded that the Central government is decided with a majority of one seat and there have been examples of a Central government losing power with just one vote.