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Shivakumar seeks Southern Zonal Council resolution to retain 543 LS seats, honour 1971 census
Aug-20-2026

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar urged the Southern Zonal Council to adopt a resolution asking the Centre to retain the 1971 Census as the basis for delimitation, retain 543 Lok Sabha seats for 25 years and fit women’s reservation within the existing seats.

Shivakumar said the South’s success in population control should not result in reduced political representation. He said, ‘We welcome the assurance that no southern state will lose seats. But representation is not only about numbers; it is about weight and voice’, adding that the region’s economic contribution should be matched by its political voice.

Karnataka CM said the southern states had responded to the country's call for population stabilisation with discipline and success, and they should not be penalised for that achievement during the delimitation exercise. Shivakumar wanted the 1971 population basis be respected and for the overall strength of the Lok Sabha to remain unchanged.

Shivakumar also linked the delimitation issue with women’s reservation, arguing that the implementation of the reservation should not be delayed on account of a fresh delimitation exercise. He urged the Council to pass a resolution seeking to freeze the number of Lok Sabha seats at the existing 543 for the next 25 years and provide women’s reservation within those 543 seats.

Shivakumar's intervention comes amid concerns among southern states that a delimitation exercise based on population could alter the balance of parliamentary representation between states that have successfully implemented population-control measures and those with larger populations. He said protecting the South's political voice was integral to ensuring fairness within India's federal structure.

CM also stressed the issue of the Mekedatu project, saying that it is an important project not only for Karnataka, but for Tamil Nadu as well.

DK Shivakumar raised the delimitation issue while addressing the 31st Southern Zonal Council (SZC) meeting at Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu. The text of his speech was released in Bengaluru by the Karnataka government.


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