Karnataka CM Urges 1971 Census Baseline for Parliamentary Seats

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has challenged the proposed parliamentary delimitation, advocating for the 1971 census to remain the foundational metric for seat allocation for the next quarter-century. He argues that states which successfully implemented population control should not face a reduction in their political influence within the Lok Sabha.

Editorial·August 20, 2026·reads: 3,218

Karnataka CM Urges 1971 Census Baseline for Parliamentary Seats

Speaking at the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting, Shivakumar emphasized that the South’s economic contributions and demographic management deserve proportional representation. He asserted that parliamentary influence must be measured by a state's policy outcomes rather than raw population growth, warning that an updated census could penalize southern regions for their developmental successes.

Beyond seat distribution, the Chief Minister urged his counterparts to back a resolution integrating women’s reservation into the existing 543-seat structure. By decoupling representation from current population shifts, he claims the federal government can ensure equitable resource distribution while protecting the political voice of southern states. His proposal seeks to freeze the current allocation to prevent a potential shift in power that would undermine the region's long-standing role in India's political landscape.