Paper: GS-II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Federalism, Issue: The Federal Dilemma of Delimitation
Context:
Recently, proposals to expand the Lok Sabha and undertake delimitation have revived tensions between democratic equality and federal fairness. Population-based redistribution may equalise the value of votes, but it could reduce the relative influence of States that successfully controlled population growth.
Explanation
Present Development
- The reported proposal seeks to increase the Lok Sabha’s maximum strength and provide every State a 50% pro-rata increase in representation.
- A pro-rata expansion would broadly preserve States’ existing relative shares while creating seats for population growth and women’s reservation.
- However, an oral assurance may not provide the certainty of an explicit constitutional provision.
Democratic Dimension
- Present constituencies contain unequal populations; consequently, the value of one citizen’s vote varies across States.
- Redistribution according to current population could advance “one person, one vote, one value.”
Federal Dimension
- States with lower fertility fear being penalised for successful policies relating to health, education and family planning.
- Smaller and southern States may lose relative influence over Union legislation, taxation and resource distribution.
Institutional Concerns
- Expanding only the Lok Sabha could weaken the Rajya Sabha’s role as a federal counterbalance.
- A larger House may reduce speaking time, strain infrastructure and increase public expenditure.
- Delimitation must also accommodate the one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
Way Forward
- Parliament should adopt transparent criteria after extensive consultation with States.
- Pro-rata expansion, minimum representation guarantees and a stronger Rajya Sabha can reconcile population equality with federal balance.
Conclusion
Delimitation is not merely a technical redrawing of constituencies; it redistributes political power within the Union. A legitimate settlement must balance equal voting power, demographic performance, regional representation and cooperative federalism through constitutional guarantees and consensus.
Source: (The The Hindu)
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Delimitation reform: India’s federal balance