Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Shivakumar Seeks South Support to Preserve Lok Sabha Representation
D K Shivakumar wants southern Indian states to keep a strong voice in Parliament.
He spoke at a meeting of southern states’ leaders called the Southern Zonal Council.
India may redraw parliamentary constituencies in a process called delimitation.
Shivakumar said the older 1971 population figures should be used for this process.
He also wants the Lok Sabha to keep its current 543 seats for 25 years.
He said seats for women should be added within those 543 seats.
His concern is that states that successfully limited population growth could otherwise lose influence.
He also discussed the Mekedatu water project, which Karnataka supports but Tamil Nadu opposes.
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar urged the Southern Zonal Council to endorse the 1971 census as the basis for delimitation.
He called for retaining the Lok Sabha’s existing 543 seats for the next 25 years.
Shivakumar proposed including women’s reservation within the existing 543 seats rather than waiting for a new population count.
He said southern states should not lose political influence because they successfully controlled population growth.
He also raised the Mekedatu project and said it could benefit farmers in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, despite Tamil Nadu’s opposition.
- Who
- D K Shivakumar, Karnataka’s Chief Minister, addressing the Southern Zonal Council and fellow southern leaders.
- What
- He urged the Council to seek a resolution using the 1971 census for delimitation, preserving 543 Lok Sabha seats for 25 years, and fitting women’s reservation within those seats.
- When
- Thursday, during the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council.
- Where
- Reports identify Mahabalipuram as the meeting location; one account describes a venue at Kovalam near Chennai.
- Why
- Shivakumar said southern states should not be penalized politically for controlling population growth and that political representation should reflect fairness in India’s federal structure.
Representation and Mekedatu Supporters
Delimitation and Mekedatu Concerns
Basis for delimitation
Representation and Mekedatu Supporters
Shivakumar argues that the 1971 census should remain the basis and that southern states should not lose political influence after successfully controlling population growth.
Delimitation and Mekedatu Concerns
The reports describe broader concerns that population-based delimitation could change the balance of parliamentary representation between southern states and states with larger populations.
Lok Sabha seat strength
Representation and Mekedatu Supporters
Shivakumar wants the current 543 seats frozen for 25 years, with women’s reservation provided within that total.
Delimitation and Mekedatu Concerns
The articles do not identify a specific opposing position on retaining 543 seats, but they report that the issue is connected to concerns over a future delimitation exercise.
Mekedatu project
Representation and Mekedatu Supporters
Shivakumar says the project would help farmers in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and has urged cooperation.
Delimitation and Mekedatu Concerns
Tamil Nadu opposes the proposed Cauvery balancing reservoir, saying it would harm the state’s interests.
- Speaker
- D K Shivakumar, Chief Minister of Karnataka
- Forum
- 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council
- Delimitation basis sought
- The 1971 population census
- Requested Lok Sabha strength
- 543 seats
- Proposed duration
- 25 years
- Women’s reservation proposal
- Accommodate it within the existing 543 seats
- Additional issue
- The Mekedatu project and the Cauvery water dispute
- Reported location discrepancy
- Articles variously describe the meeting as being in Mahabalipuram and at Kovalam near Chennai
