The Centre has clarified that the proposed delimitation exercise will not reduce representation of southern states in Lok Sabha. Instead, all states will gain seats proportionately under an expansion model linked to a 50% increase in parliamentary strength.
The government plans to increase the total number of Lok Sabha seats by about 50%, from 543 to 816 seats. This means each state's percentage share of seats remains nearly unchanged, as per a press release by the ministry of home affairs.
Southern states currently hold 129 of 543 seats (23.76%). After the proposed expansion, it will go up to 195 of 816 seats (23.87%). The remaining 621 seats (about 76% of the House) would go to other states, mainly in the North.
The government says this shows that the South's overall share remains stable, at roughly 24%, even after delimitation. Across all five southern states, the combined total increases from 129 to 195 seats, while the proportional share remains almost unchanged.
The government has also said that it has not altered the Delimitation Commission Act, and that the existing legal framework has been reproduced without changes.
