Amit Shah’s statement on delimitation is not credible: CM

Bengaluru

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has dismissed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s assurance that the southern states will not be affected by the delimitation process, calling it untrustworthy and misleading. He claimed that Shah’s remarks seem aimed at creating confusion rather than providing clarity.

Siddaramaiah stated that either the Home Minister lacks proper information or there is a deliberate attempt to put the southern states, including Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh, at a disadvantage. He urged the Union Government to clarify whether the process would be based on the latest population ratio or the current number of Lok Sabha seats.

He warned that using the latest population figures would be unfair to the southern states, as previous delimitation exercises were based on the 1971 Census to maintain balance. Southern states have effectively controlled their population while progressing in development, unlike northern states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh.

If delimitation follows the latest census, Karnataka’s seats may drop from 28 to 26, Andhra Pradesh’s from 42 to 34, and Tamil Nadu’s from 39 to 31, while Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh would gain seats. Siddaramaiah alleged that the BJP-led Union Government is using delimitation to weaken the voice of the southern states.

He emphasized the need for unity among the southern states and announced plans for a joint movement against this injustice.