Tue Mar 11 11:42:55 UTC 2025: ## Congress Slams Proposed Delimitation as Unfair to States with Low Fertility Rates
**New Delhi, March 11, 2025** – The Congress party has strongly criticized the upcoming delimitation of Lok Sabha seats, arguing that it unfairly penalizes states that have successfully reduced their total fertility rates. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh highlighted that nine states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh, stand to lose between one and eight seats each, while Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are projected to gain 11 and 10 seats respectively.
Ramesh cited a 2019 analysis by scholars Milan Vaishnav and Jamie Hintson, which predicted these shifts based on 2026 population projections. He argued that the states losing seats are being punished for their success in family planning, a national objective.
This criticism echoes concerns raised by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who last week invited other affected states to form a Joint Action Committee (JAC) to oppose the delimitation. Stalin’s letter outlines two potential scenarios: redistributing the current 543 seats or increasing the total number beyond 800. He called for a united front to combat what he considers an unfair process.
The delimitation process, mandated by the Constitution after each census, was paused from 1976 to 2001 and again after 2001 to encourage population control. The current exercise is expected to be based on the post-2026 census data. The Congress and several state chief ministers are now actively mobilizing opposition to the proposed changes.
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