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Karnataka CM Shivakumar urges Centre to freeze LS seats, says economic weight must match political voice
Shivakumar argued that southern states had answered the national call to control population growth — and that their success in doing so must not be allowed to diminish their political representation.
Shivakumar also urged the Centre to reconsider the recently passed Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026. (File photo)
At the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council on Thursday, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar urged member states to call upon the Centre to freeze the existing number of Lok Sabha seats and accommodate women’s reservation within the current seat count.
In the meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, held at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, Shivakumar argued that southern states had answered the national call to control population growth — and that their success in doing so must not be allowed to diminish their political representation. “That success must never become the reason to make our voice smaller. Our economic weight must be matched with political voice,” he said, adding that Karnataka and other Southern states must not see their share of representation reduced either in absolute numbers or in proportion.
On the Centre’s promise of no seat reduction, Shivakumar said, “We welcome the assurance that no southern state will lose seats. But representation is not only about numbers. It is about weight, and about voice.”
He said, “I, therefore, urge this Council to move a resolution to freeze the number of seats in Lok Sabha to the current number and provide women’s reservation within that number. I call upon my fellow Chief Ministers to stand together behind our shared stand.”
‘Reconsider Mines Bill’
Shivakumar also urged the Centre to reconsider the recently passed Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, saying it was “taking away the state’s right to tax major minerals – a right given to the states by a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court.”
The Mekedatu project was also flagged at the meeting, according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office. “The Mekedatu project is important not only for Karnataka but for Tamil Nadu as well. Every drop of water from the project will help farmers in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry,” Shivakumar said.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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