India20 Aug

Southern Zonal Council Discusses Delimitation; Karnataka CM Urges 1971 Census Basis

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting in Kovalam, where Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar urged the Centre to keep the 1971 Census as the basis for delimitation and maintain the Lok Sabha's current strength of 543 seats for the next 25 years, saying southern states should not lose political voice for controlling population.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council at Kovalam. At the meeting, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar urged the Centre to retain the 1971 Census as the basis for delimitation and maintain the existing strength of the Lok Sabha at 543 seats for the next 25 years.

Shivakumar also called for women's reservation to be accommodated within the existing 543 seats. He argued that southern states should not be penalised for successfully controlling their population.

"The southern states' success in controlling its population must not become a reason for reducing its political voice," he said.

He also said representation was not only about numbers but about weight and voice, and welcomed assurances that no southern state would lose seats.

The meeting brought together leaders from southern states to discuss issues of regional importance, including concerns over the potential impact of delimitation on parliamentary representation.

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