Lok Sabha seats to rise to 816 under proposed plan
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has clarified that the proposed delimitation exercise will increase representation for southern states, dismissing concerns of any reduction in their political strength.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha during discussions on the Delimitation Bill, 2026 and related constitutional amendments, Amit Shah said that no state, especially those in South India, will face injustice. He emphasised that the Bill will benefit southern states rather than harm them.
Under the proposed plan, Lok Sabha seats are expected to increase from 543 to around 816. As a result, the number of MPs from southern states will rise from 129 to 195, while their overall share will remain nearly unchanged at about 24 percent.
Shah explained that states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala will see a significant increase in seats, but their proportional representation will stay stable. He specifically assured Tamil Nadu that its political strength will not decrease but grow.
The Home Minister also made it clear that the delimitation process will not be implemented before 2029, and all elections until then will continue under the existing system. He added that the current law has not been altered in any way.
On the issue of caste census, Shah said that data will be collected during the population enumeration phase, while the ongoing phase is limited to counting houses.
Reaffirming confidence in democracy, Shah said that the will of the people ultimately determines power, and no one can manipulate the mandate of the nation.
