Federal dilemma of delimitation: Tamil Nadu urges freeze on Lok Sabha seats at 543
The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution urging the Centre to permanently freeze the number of Lok Sabha seats at 543 and maintain the current 2.2:1 ratio with Rajya Sabha. This move addresses the 'federal dilemma' of delimitation, where redistributing seats based on current population could disadvantage smaller, less populous states. Delimitation, the process of fixing constituency boundaries, aims for 'one citizen-one vote-one value' but linking it to future censuses could undermine federal balance. The proposed Constitution 131st Amendment Bill to increase Lok Sabha seats to 850 further highlights these concerns.
Key Points
- Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution to freeze Lok Sabha seats at 543 and maintain the 2.2:1 ratio with Rajya Sabha.
- Delimitation is the process of fixing territorial constituency boundaries to ensure population equality.
- Redistribution of seats based on current population could disadvantage smaller and less populous states.
- Linking delimitation to future censuses is seen as undermining federal balance and distorting representation.
- The Constitution 131st Amendment Bill proposes increasing Lok Sabha seats from 550 to 850, raising concerns about state representation.
Exam Facts
- Current Lok Sabha seats: 543
- Proposed Lok Sabha seats (Constitution 131st Amendment Bill, April 2026): Up to 850
- Current Lok Sabha to Rajya Sabha ratio: 2.2:1 (based on 1971 census)
- Principle of delimitation: 'One citizen-one vote-one value'
- State advocating freeze: Tamil Nadu
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