Hyderabad: Chief Minister Revanth Reddy opposed the pro rata Lok Sabha seat model and urged southern states to unite against the proposal.
He wrote to the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry. In the letters, he raised concerns over plans to increase Lok Sabha seats using a pro rata method.
Moreover, the Chief Minister warned that the move could disturb the federal balance. He also stressed the need for coordinated action among southern and like-minded states.
According to Revanth Reddy, authorities are mixing women’s reservation, delimitation and seat increase to create confusion. However, the core issue remains the proposed expansion of Lok Sabha seats to around 850.
The proposed model will increase seats in all states. However, it will widen the gap between them.
For instance, Andhra Pradesh may rise from 25 to about 38 seats. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh may increase from 80 to around 120 seats.
The pro rata Lok Sabha model may widen the regional imbalance
In Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the combined strength may reach around 60 seats. Even then, Uttar Pradesh would continue to remain far ahead.
A similar trend will reflect in Karnataka and Kerala. This widening gap, he warned, will reduce the relative voice of southern states.
Southern states have invested heavily in population control, public health and education. In addition, they have contributed significantly to economic growth.
However, the proposed model ignores these achievements. Instead, it rewards higher population growth.
Such an approach could create a long-term imbalance in representation. It may also weaken equitable participation in Parliament.
The Chief Minister also flagged financial disparities. He pointed out that some states receive higher returns for each rupee contributed.
As an alternative, he proposed a hybrid model. Under this approach, half the new seats would follow the pro rata method.
The remaining seats, he suggested, should depend on economic contribution and performance indicators.
Revanth Reddy called for a united effort to protect regional balance. He stressed that equitable representation remains essential for national cohesion.