TN seeks freeze’ in LS seats

CHENNAI, FEB 21: Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Saturday moved a resolution in the Tamil Nadu Assembly urging the Centre to ensure that the number of seats in the Lok Sabha allotted to every state remained unchanged for another 50 years and amend the Constitution accordingly.

The resolution said Art 81 of the Constitution as amended by the Constitution (42 Amendment) Act, 1976, provided that the number of Lok Sabha seats for each state would remain frozen till the figures of the first census taken after 2000 A.D. were published. This provision ensured that the states which had performed well in the implementation family welfare programme did not suffer from reduction in the number of elected members in the House of People on this score. It said 2000 A.D. is fast approaching and it is apprehended that if remedial measure is not taken immediately, Tamil Nadu’s representation in Lok Sabha may be reduced by six seats due to lower annual average growth rate of population achieved. This would in the long runaffect the implementation of family welfare programme not only in Tamil Nadu but in other states as well, the resolution said.