The government is planning to bring a new delimitation bill in the next session of Parliament. There are strong constitutional and democratic arguments behind doing so. Democracies redraw electoral constituencies from time to time, so that representation remains broadly in line with demographic realities. The basis of democracy is the principle that every citizen’s vote should have equal importance. Population changes over time create disparities across constituencies. Some MPs appear to represent a larger population than others. In fact, delimitation has already been delayed. The last major delimitation process was done on the basis of the 2001 census, although the number of seats in the Lok Sabha was kept constant. Since then, India’s population has changed drastically. Urbanization has accelerated. Migration patterns have changed demographic patterns. New economic centers have emerged. In many places constituency boundaries no longer reflect existing realities. But limitation is not only a matter of mathematics. It affects the delicate balance between population, political power, federalism and national unity. States like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have invested heavily in education, healthcare and family planning over the decades. Their population growth has stabilized. Also, these states have emerged as major contributors to national development and tax revenues. If delimitation is done only on the basis of population, the political influence of these states in Parliament may be reduced. States in North India – where population growth is higher – will gain proportionately more representation. Whether this assumption is completely justified or not is a different matter. Politics is not based only on facts; It is also based on psychology. Any democratic transition should not come at the cost of weakening the emotional ties that hold the country together. This question is also important whether the delimitation can be carried forward without a new census? Delimitation is basically a population based process. If accurate representation is to be ensured, fresh and reliable data must be available before the beginning of any process. Starting the delimitation process without completing the census process will give rise to allegations that it is based on incomplete or outdated data. Moreover, delimitation is not just a matter of number of seats. This also includes deciding where the boundaries of the constituencies will be. Such decisions can deeply affect the election results. Therefore, it is necessary for everyone to have confidence in the credibility of the institution appointed for this responsibility. For all these reasons, it is important that the government reaches a consensus on the delimitation process through discussions with all parties. One possibility could be to implement it in a phased manner over several election cycles. This will provide an opportunity for political systems and public opinion to gradually adjust. Another option could be some kind of ‘weighted-representation’. If this is done wisely then it will not be a violation of democratic principles. Countries around the world often adopt mechanisms with population-based representation that protect regional interests. For example, in the US Senate, states are given equal representation regardless of population. Germany’s Bundesrat also incorporates a similar mechanism of federal balancing. India need not copy these models, but it can certainly learn from the core ideology behind them. The objective should be that states which have achieved development goals do not find themselves at a political disadvantage. It would be more appropriate that the bill be sent to the Select Committee of Parliament, where it can be discussed further in the presence of everyone. The country has proved time and again that difficult questions can be resolved through dialogue, adjustment and mutual respect. The debate on delimitation also demands such visionary leadership. The process of delimitation also involves deciding where the boundaries of constituencies will be. Such decisions can deeply affect the election results. Therefore, it is necessary for everyone to have confidence in the credibility of the institution appointed for this responsibility. (These are the author’s own views)
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Pawan K. Verma’s Column: Delimitation is necessary, but it should be discussed jointly
