Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday strongly dismissed claims that southern states would suffer losses in the upcoming delimitation exercise, calling such concerns “misleading narratives” being circulated in parts of South India.

Speaking on the issue of seat redistribution and women’s reservation, Shah assured that the process would be carried out in a way that ensures fairness for all regions, with no state being put at a disadvantage.

Seat Increase, Not Reduction

Clarifying the government’s position, Shah highlighted that several southern states are actually expected to gain seats rather than lose representation. He cited examples, stating that Tamil Nadu could see an increase of around 20 seats, Kerala about 10, Andhra Pradesh 13, and Telangana 9.

He also pointed out that Maharashtra, which currently has one of the highest representations in the Lok Sabha after Uttar Pradesh, is likely to gain an additional 24 seats.

Shah emphasized that delimitation would be based on population and democratic representation, and not intended to reduce the voice of any region.

Opposition Raises Red Flag

However, opposition parties under the INDIA bloc have taken a firm stand against the proposed changes. During a meeting held at the residence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi, key leaders discussed the issue and decided to oppose the move.

The meeting was attended by prominent leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, Supriya Sule, Sanjay Raut, and Kapil Sibal.

While backing the idea of women’s reservation, opposition leaders expressed concern that linking it with delimitation could reduce representation from southern and northeastern states.

Women’s Reservation Link Sparks Debate

The controversy revolves around the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, which provides 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Currently, its implementation is tied to the delimitation process.

The central government is reportedly planning to implement the reservation before the 2029 general elections by amending the law and separating it from the 2027 Census-based delimitation exercise.

Big Expansion Plan in Works

Sources indicate that the Centre is also considering a major expansion of the Lok Sabha. The proposal suggests increasing the total number of seats from the current 543 to around 850, including 815 seats for states and 35 for Union Territories.

If implemented, this would mark one of the biggest structural changes in India’s parliamentary system, significantly altering political representation across the country.