Delimitation is a crucial exercise in a democracy aimed at ensuring fair and equitable representation of the population in legislative bodies. In India, delimitation has far-reaching implications, because of inequitable growth of population in various parts of the country, gaps in development, literacy and education, and regional differences.
With the Union proposing a fresh delimitation exercise recently, it has become a topic of intense debates and discussions. In this context, let us understand what is delimitation, and what are the issues associated with it.
What is Delimitation?
Delimitation is the act of redrawing the boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country. This is done not on the basis of geographical area, but to reflect the size of population in that area.
In India, it involves adjusting the boundaries of Lok Sabha as well as to the state legislative assembly constituencies to account for the changes in populations that have occurred in last 2 decades. The primary objective of this exercise is to ensure that each elected representative in these bodies represents as much practicable and equal number of voters as possible.
The process of delimitation is carried out by an independent body known as the Delimitation Commission, which is appointed by the President of India which works in collaboration with the Election Commission of India.
History of Delimitation in India
Since India’s independence, delimitation exercises have been conducted periodically to maintain fair representation. The first exercise was conducted in 1952 which set the maximum number of Lok Sabha seats to 500. The Second Delimitation Commission increased the total Lok Sabha seats to 522 in 1963, in order to account for population growth and changes in state boundaries. This exercise was conducted for the third time in 1973, which further increased the number of Lok Sabha seats to 543, which is still the same.
However, such timely delimitation exercises incentivised the states to increase their population in order to gain representation in parliament. In order to halt this process, a delimitation freeze was implemented through constitutional amendments.
The Fourth Delimitation Commission was established in 2002 which undertook the exercise of redrawing electoral boundaries in India based on the 2001 census without increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats. It focused on readjusting the boundaries of existing parliamentary and assembly constituencies to reflect population changes since the previous delimitation.
The Need for a New Delimitation Exercise
The last comprehensive delimitation exercise in India was based on the 1971 census, making the current constituency boundaries significantly outdated. Considering the fact that India’s population has more than doubled since 1971, there are several disparities in the population-to-MP ratio across constituencies. This is why demand for a new delimitation exercise is being made by several leaders. In addition, Articles 82 and 170 of the Indian Constitution require readjustment of constituencies after each census.
In order to meet with these criteria, the next delimitation exercise is expected to take place after 2026, following the completion of the next population census. This timeline was set by the 84th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2001, which extended the freeze on readjustment of seats until the first census after 2026.
South Indian States’ Concerns
While several state have been looking forward to a fresh delimitation exercise which would provide them with increased representation at the centre, it is a matter of concern for others, particularly among South Indian states.
South Indian states, particularly Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, have successfully implemented population control measures over the past decades. This has resulted in lower fertility rates compared to some northern states. This disparity in population growth rates could lead to a reduction in the number of Lok Sabha seats allocated to southern states, while northern states with higher populations might gain seats.
For instance, projections suggest that Uttar Pradesh could see its Lok Sabha seats increase from 80 to 143, while Bihar’s tally might nearly double from 40 to 79. On the other hand, Tamil Nadu’s seats might remain at 39 or less, and Kerala in fact might even lose two seats.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin described the proposed delimitation exercise as “a sword hanging over the head of South India”.
The southern states have been arguing that they are being unfairly penalised for their successful implementation of family planning policies and overall development efforts. They contend that their contributions to national development and economic growth should be factored into the representation equation, not just raw population numbers.
The Union Government has extended an assurance that the southern states will not lose their existing seats in the parliament on account of delimitation. However, the leaders of these states are not assuaged as they worry about the inequity in the number of seats of southern and northern states, and how it would impact in terms of representation of their regional issues in the centre.
As India moves towards the next delimitation exercise post-2026, it will be crucial for policymakers to address these concerns thoughtfully. The process must not only adhere to constitutional mandates but also uphold the principles of equitable representation and cooperative federalism that are fundamental to India’s democratic fabric. Ultimately, the success of the delimitation exercise will depend on its ability to strengthen India’s unity in diversity, ensuring that all regions and communities feel adequately represented in the nation’s political discourse and decision-making processes.
