Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that Lok Sabha seats would not be reduced in South Indian states that have effectively controlled population, asserting that the total number of seats will be increased to ensure fair representation.
Addressing an NDA Assembly election rally, Modi dismissed concerns over possible seat reduction due to delimitation, calling such claims “false rumours”.
“There are false rumours being spread that seats will be reduced in South Indian states due to population control, but this is completely untrue. Parliament will take steps to ensure that their seats are fully protected,” he said.
He added that states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Goa would not be penalised for their success in population control.
The prime minister said Parliament will reconvene from April 16 to 18 to take up key legislation, including provisions related to 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies under the Nari Shakti Vandan Act.
The proposed expansion of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816 is aimed at facilitating the implementation of women’s reservation while ensuring representation across states is enhanced rather than reduced.
Modi urged all political parties to support the legislation, stating that the government aims to ensure 33 per cent representation for women in Parliament from 2029 onwards.
The remarks come amid a political debate over delimitation, with the Congress raising concerns that southern states could face a relative disadvantage despite controlling population growth. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had described the issue as significant, warning of potential imbalance in representation.
Modi, however, maintained that the Centre’s approach is to ensure inclusive growth and balanced representation.
Highlighting government initiatives, he said women have been major beneficiaries of NDA policies, citing schemes related to sanitation, financial inclusion and housing, as well as entrepreneurship initiatives such as Mudra loans and the “Lakhpati Didi” campaign.
He reiterated that women’s empowerment remains central to the government’s agenda.
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