Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann has strongly criticised the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for its proposed plan to change the number of parliamentary seats in different states through delimitation. Mann accused the central government of trying to reduce seats in areas where the BJP is politically weak, including Punjab and Tamil Nadu.
On Saturday, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann alleged that the central government’s proposed delimitation plan is unfair and politically motivated. According to Mann, the BJP-led central government wants to reduce the number of parliamentary seats in states where they do not have a strong voter base, such as Punjab and Tamil Nadu.
Speaking to the media, Mann said, "I spoke to Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin about this issue. Two ministers from Tamil Nadu will meet me soon to discuss the matter. We want to understand how many seats the Centre plans to reduce and why."
Mann also claimed that the central government’s plan to reduce seats in Tamil Nadu is contradictory to its stand on population control. Tamil Nadu has seen a decrease in population growth over the years, but instead of rewarding the state for successful population control, the Centre is planning to reduce its representation in Parliament. Mann argued that this would weaken the political influence of states with smaller populations.
The Punjab CM warned that this move could disrupt the balance of political power in the country. He stressed that states like Punjab and Tamil Nadu should not be punished for successful population control. Mann also pointed out that the proposed changes could reduce the overall political influence of southern states and certain regions in the northeast, where the BJP does not have a strong presence.
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Mann confirmed that he will participate in a joint action committee (JAC) meeting called by Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin on March 22 in Chennai. The meeting will include chief ministers and political leaders from different parties. The goal of the meeting is to build a united opposition against the proposed delimitation.
The Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu has been vocal against the central government’s three-language formula in the National Education Policy and the delimitation plan. The DMK has accused the Centre of trying to increase seats in Hindi-speaking states while reducing them in the South and Northeast.
DMK MP Kanimozhi confirmed that the party has received positive feedback from various chief ministers and political leaders regarding the JAC meeting. Kanimozhi said that leaders from both the North and South are concerned about the impact of delimitation based on population. She argued that such a move would hurt the political representation of southern and northeastern states.
Mann expressed support for the DMK’s stance and said that Punjab would stand with Tamil Nadu and other states opposing the delimitation plan. He warned that if the central government proceeds with this plan, it could create a political imbalance and weaken the federal structure of the country.
Political analysts have pointed out that the proposed delimitation could increase parliamentary representation in northern states, where population growth is higher. However, this would reduce seats in southern and northeastern states, despite their better performance in population control and development.
The Punjab CM concluded by saying that he hopes the joint action committee meeting will result in a united opposition against the central government’s plan. He emphasised the need for balanced political representation to protect the interests of all states, regardless of their population size or political preferences.
The opposition parties have also raised concerns that the delimitation plan is politically motivated and could affect the balance of power in future elections. The final decision on the delimitation process is expected to be announced later this year. Until then, political tension around this issue is likely to grow.
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