Limits must for delimitation

You know a Tamil Nadu election is round the corner if anti-Hindi rhetoric is raised several notches. Facing a degree of anti-incumbency, and also a fresh challenge from within the Dravidian ideological fold from actor Vijay’s new party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, DMK chief Stalin has gone one better by raising the issue of delimitation of parliamentary constituencies. Karnataka Congress CM Siddaramaiah joined the chorus. Another issue is the demand for a greater tax share for southern states from the central pool.

The rhetoric on language and tax share may die down in due course, but delimitation is a ticking time-bomb. There’s genuine fear among southern states that the populous Hindi belt will get more Lok Sabha seats at their cost. Fears must be addressed, but faulty arguments to retain existing seat proportions basis 1971 population levels must be gently debunked.

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