Revanth Reddy's Opposition to Delimitation and Women's Reservation

Revanth Reddy, Chief Minister of Telangana, opposes the proposed delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies, warning of potential protests in southern states if the freeze on parliamentary seats is lifted after the census. He contends that increasing Lok Sabha seats based on population would disadvantage southern states, which have implemented population control measures. Reddy advocates for freezing the maximum capacity of Lok Sabha seats at 550 for another 25 years. He emphasizes the need for immediate implementation of a 33% reservation for women in the existing Lok Sabha seats for the upcoming elections, rather than linking it to future delimitation exercises. He highlights a significant demographic divide between northern and southern states, asserting that the current government is attempting to politically weaken the south through these proposed changes. Reddy illustrates the disparity in parliamentary representation by comparing Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, arguing that population numbers, rather than percentages, are critical in determining political representation. Reddy criticizes the government's approach to delimitation as politically motivated, suggesting it could harm representation for southern states. He proposes enhancing representation within local bodies and state assemblies instead of expanding the lower house of parliament.