Hyderabad: Assembly constituencies in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are expected to increase seats following the 2026 national census, according to estimates from official sources. Preliminary assessments suggest 34 new seats could be added in Telangana and 50 in Andhra Pradesh, taking the total to 153 and 225, respectively.
Telangana has 119 assembly constituencies, while Andhra Pradesh holds 175. Any move to increase these numbers hinges on Article 170 of the Constitution, which ties seat allocation to population-based delimitation.
Officials noted that the process will depend on constituency delimitation to be carried out by the Election Commission, which will factor in demographic shifts, administrative considerations, and reservation requirements. If carried out, expanding the number of assembly constituencies could trigger shifts in Lok Sabha seat distribution too, analysts point out. Political observers say the move might upend the existing power dynamics in both states, opening the door to fresh challenges and strategic gains for all major parties.
In Andhra Pradesh, the number of Scheduled Caste reserved seats is projected to rise from 29 to 38, and Scheduled Tribe reserved seats from 7 to 12. In Telangana, SC-reserved seats are likely to go up from 19 to 24, and ST-reserved seats from 12 to 14.
The expansion of constituencies is linked to population metrics, which will be clarified in the 2026 census. The delimitation process will also need to reconcile geographical, administrative, and social representation parameters to finalise seat allocation.