Delimitation ‘gravest danger’ ahead of South Indian states, may lead to ‘political marginalisation’: Siddaramaiah

Referring to studies, CM Siddaramaiah said states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar may gain over 20 Lok Sabha seats, Tamil Nadu and Kerala together may lose 16 seats.

“Karnataka, too, faces a serious reduction in political voice. This is not democracy. This is demographic punishment. Representation cannot become a reward for failure and a penalty for success. If delimitation is done without correcting this injustice, South India will be politically marginalised in its own country,” he said.

Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said, stood for India and not against it. “… for an India that is fair, federal and just. But a strong India cannot be built by weakening its strongest states,” he said in his address.

The conference was held in opposition to discrimination in the delimitation process, injustice in tax devolution to southern states, and the Union government’s assault on federalism.

Calling for a “constitutional course correction” to address the injustice faced by states like Karnataka, he demanded that the southern states be protected against limitations through constitutional safeguards. He also pushed for the revival of the inter-state council.