THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has come out against the ongoing Delimitation exercise.
The ongoing exercise would penalise states like Kerala that implemented the national population policy, said the CM in a statement.
"The draft of the Delimitation Bill, 2026, that is now available in the public domain seems to suggest that the BJP-led Union Government is keen on proceeding with a delimitation exercise without accounting for the current proportional share of the States', vis-à-vis their representation in the Lok Sabha."
Such an exercise would be highly unjust, as it would penalise those very States - including Kerala - which took conscious efforts to sincerely implement the National Population Policy, 1976. On the other hand, States that lagged behind in population control measures would be seemingly rewarded for their ineffective implementation," said Vijayan.
He also raised the need for a consensual approach.
"Federalism has been recognised as an inalienable part of the basic structure of our Constitution and in a federal democracy, the raison d'être for representation cannot be mere numbers. There has to be an inclusive approach by taking into account the sentiments of all those who would be impacted by the proposed delimitation exercise, especially the States," the statement read.
"A consensual approach in this matter is absolutely essential. The present attempt to increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha, through an amendment proposed to be brought about in a haste will undoubtedly destroy the spirit of consensus, which was the cornerstone of our Constitution-making," it further said.
Vijayan further said that rushing through the delimitation amendment under the garb of implementing women’s reservation was nothing but a ploy to mask the real objectives behind the exercise.
He also questioned the timing of the exercise.
"The fact that it is being taken up when the election process to four State assemblies and one Union Territory is yet to be completed has raised genuine suspicions about the political considerations behind it."
"Considering these strong grounds, it is imperative that the present Delimitation Bill, which is sought to be taken up without fair amount of discussions be dropped forthwith."
At the same time, women's reservation in the Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies can be and should be implemented right away, without any linkages to delimitation or census," he further added.