Palla Srinivas Rao, the State President of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Gajuwaka MLA, has asserted that the proposed delimitation initiative, which aims to raise the number of parliamentary seats by 50 per cent, will favour southern states. He emphasised that the plan is not solely influenced by population metrics.

During an interview with ANI on April 16, 2023, Rao addressed concerns regarding potential disparities favouring northern states. He dismissed these fears, stating, “Irrespective of the population, an increase of 50 per cent seats will definitely be beneficial for Southern Indian states.”

Rao further noted that while some southern states have expressed objections over the perceived disproportionate gain for northern regions, he does not believe such outcomes are warranted. He insisted that the Bill guarantees a uniform increase in parliamentary representation across various states.

Provisions of the Delimitation Bill

The TDP state president elaborated on the specifics of the Delimitation Bill, claiming that it guarantees equal increments in parliamentary seats in every state. He pointed out that the Bill explicitly mentions the addition of 50 per cent parliamentary seats without strict adherence to population figures.

Using Andhra Pradesh as an example, Rao indicated that the state currently holds approximately 25 Lok Sabha seats and could potentially receive around 25 to 26 additional seats following the proposed changes. “Now, for example, we have around 25 seats in Andhra Pradesh, and we will get another 25-26 seats–nearly 50% of Parliament seats in Andhra Pradesh,” he stated.

Rao’s comments come amid the introduction of the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and related legislation in the Lok Sabha. The government’s intent is to ensure that the process is transparent and equitable for all regions.

Recent Legislative Developments

On April 16, 2023, the Lok Sabha witnessed the introduction of the Delimitation Bill along with the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. This followed the Opposition’s call for a division of votes, as members sought clarity on the legislative process.

In the final vote count, there were 251 AYES and 185 NOES from a total of 333 votes. The majority of 251 AYES enabled all three Bills to advance in the legislative process. The introduction of these Bills is seen as a significant step toward enhancing political representation.

In conjunction with the legislative activities, the government has scheduled a special parliamentary session from April 16 to April 18, 2023, to facilitate the passage of amendments related to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. This initiative aims to garner support for the women’s reservation bill, which is intended for implementation in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections based on the 2011 census.

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