Delimitation is unimaginable, decentralization best way forward: major data experts | Mint

The proposed delimitation plan is flawed and unacceptable and is seen in any way, the Angest of the southern states and their politicians is understood, calling a major Chennai-based data analyst.

“The southern states face a threat to losing political power and relevance with an imminent quarrel over delimitation, which can significantly reduce their representation in Parliament,” says Nilakantan RS.

If the Lok Sabha seats are reopened on the basis of current population data, which are based on the final census of 2011, the effect on seat allocation may be harsh. In view of the comparatively high rate of population growth in North India, seat allocation based on current population levels will cause states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala, while Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh can get seats.

The final result will increase the number of constituencies in the northern states, increasing their presence in Parliament, for serious damage to the southern states, which continue to move from the north on most parameters in the north, including per capita income and contribution to the central treasury, infrastructure, health and education.

Later affecting the burden of population growth

The south is also more urbanized, infant mortality is low, and high life expectancy. The argument is that giving subsidy to the South North, which is affecting the burden of later population growth, unemployment, poverty, poor infrastructure and social backwardness.

“If I have a child and my neighbor has 10 children, would I pay for my neighbor,” Queries Nilkotan, who wrote a Bestseling Book, South vs. North: India’s Great Divide “.

According to Neelkantan, India is rapidly moving towards excessive centralization, causing the collapse of empires in the past.

“We need to limit the powers of the central government so dramatically that these resource allocation problems are solved at the state level. The states will first meet their requirements and then pass the necessary revenue to the Central Government for their main tasks like defense and external affairs.

Connects Nilkotan: “In the Union Budget of 2025, the Union Major of the Finance Minister is mostly part of the budget. Why should they not be sent back to the states? When it is a state subject, why should the Center tinker with the language policy of the states? ,

The delimitation of any future, most likely 2026, will have to struggle with two major constitutional values-federalism, and ‘one person, one vote, one value’ principle harmoniously balanced the other. These values ​​are not central for this re -arrangement of the constituencies, which the constitution proposes every 10 years, posts each census.

Neelkantan is not completely confident. He believes that decentralization is the reply instead of delimitation. “There are no easy options here, but what is definitely needed is a representation of their own will, the way it is ruled. The delimitation is threatened with practice,” he explains.

According to government surveys, three richest states have per capita income which is three times more than in three poor states. In the last 25 years, the income difference between the richest and poorest of the 12 largest states has widened, now crossing the 300% difference.

The recent assurance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah states that the southern states will not lose a single parliamentary seat as it has been strongly criticized by the ruling Congress and the opposition India President’s Committee (BRS) in the ruling Congress and Telangana.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on March 5, among other subjects, has asked to represent a great division on the issue, that political parties traditionally handled with a child’s gloves, until the arrival of the Modi government.

So, is judicial intervention a way from this imbroglio? Not at all. This is not a judicial but a political question. The job of the judiciary is to explain the constitution. This discussion has been focused on the constitution itself, “Nilakantan claims.