Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday raised concerns over a reported proposal by the Modi government to increase the size of the Lok Sabha by 50 per cent, warning that such a move could deepen regional imbalances and disadvantage several states, particularly in southern India.
In a post on X, Ramesh alleged that the government is seeking to “bulldoze” a bill that would expand the strength of the Lok Sabha and proportionately increase the number of seats allocated to each state.
He argued that the claim of equity in a uniform 50 per cent increase is “deceptive,” as it overlooks broader structural implications.
“The argument that a 50% increase in seats across-the-board is equitable is deceptive. Proportions may not change for the present but there are deeper implications that cannot be wished away,” he said.
Highlighting potential disparities, Ramesh pointed out that larger states would continue to gain significantly more seats in absolute terms.
“Currently Uttar Pradesh has 80 seats and Tamil Nadu has 39. With the proposed Bill, UP’s strength will zoom to 120 while Tamil Nadu will crawl up to at best 59,” he noted.
He added that while states like Kerala may see an increase from 20 to 30 seats, and Bihar from 40 to 60, the overall gains would remain uneven. “The southern states will gain 66 seats while the northern states will gain 200 seats,” he said.
Ramesh warned that increasing the gap in representation between states could place southern states at a disadvantage in national decision-making.
He also expressed concern for smaller states in the Northeast and western regions, suggesting that the proposed changes could dilute their influence in Parliament.
Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress leader alleged that the move is being pushed without wider consultation.
“PM Modi is unilaterally preparing a law which will disadvantage smaller states in the South, Northeast, and West,” he said.
Ramesh noted that opposition to the proposal may grow as more details emerge, pointing out that the Chief Minister of Telangana has already raised concerns. “Others may very well follow as this proposal becomes officially public,” he added.
The issue of Lok Sabha seat allocation is closely tied to delimitation, a process that determines the number and boundaries of parliamentary constituencies based on population. India has frozen the allocation of seats among states since the 1970s to encourage population control measures, with any future revision expected to trigger a complex political debate balancing representation with federal equity.
