Proactive announcements are the functional features of the BJP – led rule of the Union government. But at the same time there is deliberate inaction on its part when a time frame is scheduled to expire at a particular point. Such is the case of Delimitation exercise of Parliamentary Constituencies that got deferred once in 1976 during the Congress regime headed by Indira Gandhi and the other in 2001 when Atal Bihari was heading the NDA rule at the Union. On both the deferments the period of the delimitation exercise got postponed to 25 years each. The reason for such deferments was due to the base of population count in each State. When the countrywide policy of population control was formulated and implemented, the States that came forward to implement the policy effectively with significant results could not be victims due to the downsizing of the total member of constituencies in such States.
The deferred period for the second time expires in 2026. The census enumeration that was due in 2021 has to be commenced and there is likelihood for the States that are effectively implementing population control to be victims. Further, the newly constructed Parliament House, has the capacity to seat a total number of the elected representatives in the Lok Sabha to 843 from the present level of 543. The increase in the number of seats suggestively stresses the commencement of the delimitation exercise that is due in 2026, for which the census enumeration has to be started at once. But the BJP led Union government has not taken any step so far. The States likely to become victims cannot remain silent on it.
They have raised their voices. The States that have raised voice are invariably from the southern part of the country including a few states in the north that have been effectively implementing population control programmes. During a recent visit to Tamil Nadu, the Union Home Minister had asked in a public meeting where is the need for the States to raise voice when the Union government has not yet started any work on delimitation. However, he assured that there would not be any decrease in the number of the Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu.
The year 2026, is fast approaching. Indecision on the scheduled agenda and fast and hasty decision more than normal in accomplishing certain agenda is the functional style of BJP – led Union government. The announcement made by the Home Minister in a public meeting cannot be considered authentic.
Delimitation is the fundamental issue that has got a direct bearing on the people’s representation in the Parliament. In case, delimitation is started it has to be decided not on the population count but on rational indices that signify equitable representation. Such rational indices must be inclusive of the effectiveness in the governance of the States that implement developmental programmes. Less effectiveness cannot be a merit for certain States to get substantial increase in the numbers of Lok Sabha constituencies.
States are recognised units of governance of people with distinct culture, language etc; Whether such States are big or small either in the size of territory or its population count is immaterial. All the States must be equitably represented in the Parliament. To emulate on that mode, USA, Senate can be followed where all the 50 States have equal representation of 2 members for every State irrespective of its size, population or wealth.
Starting the exercise on similar line is a time consuming one for which the Union government has to work out lot many fundamental works. But the expiry of the extended period upto 2026 has also to be reckoned. Under such circumstances it is reasonably better for the Union government to defer the delimitation exercise for any extended period, in consultation with all the State governments and Union territories. Only fair delimitation would safeguard the federal polity of our country as enunciated in the governing law viz. Indian Constitution.
