New Delhi : A sharp exchange over the proposed delimitation exercise played out in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. On what basis do you want this delimitation exercise to be conducted? Will the rich have more votes and the poor have none?” Surya asked. “If you take this argument further, Mukesh Ambani will have one lakh votes and someone like us will have only one vote.
Surya accused the Opposition parties and southern regional players, particularly the DMK, of running a “misleading propaganda” campaign. “Why are Opposition parties and some regional parties of the South making so much noise? The tears they are shedding are crocodile tears,” he said. Framing delimitation as a constitutional obligation rather than a political choice, Surya said the process flows from Articles 81 and 82, which mandate balancing the population-to-seat ratio and redrawing constituencies.
However, critics continue to argue that population-based redistribution could tilt representation towards northern states, raising questions over federal balance. Backing the government’s position, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has said the exercise will follow the census and will not reduce any state’s representation, even as the Lok Sabha’s strength is expected to increase.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill were introduced after a division, with 251 votes in favour and 185 against. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said the House will hold 15-18 hours of discussion, with voting scheduled for 4 pm on Friday.
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