Lok Sabha Seat Assurance to South Is Election-Driven, Says Siddaramaiah
Karnataka CM flags imbalance in proposed seat expansion, warns of growing dominance of northern states
BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent assurance regarding Lok Sabha seat distribution, suggesting it is driven more by electoral strategy than genuine concern for southern states.
In a post on X, Siddaramaiah argued that the debate is not about whether parliamentary seats will increase, but about the pattern of that increase and its implications. He pointed out that while all states are likely to gain seats, the scale of expansion appears to favour larger, BJP governed states.
Citing projections, he noted that states such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat could see significantly higher additions in seats compared to southern states. According to him, the cumulative gain for five southern states remains far lower than that of a handful of northern counterparts.
The Chief Minister emphasised that even with a proposed expansion of the Lok Sabha, the overall share of southern states would remain largely unchanged. He argued that regions that have performed better in population control and governance may end up at a disadvantage under the new structure.
Raising concerns over Karnataka’s position, Siddaramaiah said the state risks losing relative influence despite being a major contributor to the national economy. He also highlighted the widening gap in representation between Karnataka and states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Describing the trend as a concentration of political power, he warned that such changes could disrupt the balance of federalism. He further alleged that the restructuring could weaken the voice of southern states in national decision making.
Siddaramaiah called for wider consultations and public discussion before implementing any major structural changes. Stressing the need for transparency and fairness, he said the state would strongly oppose any move that undermines its representation at the national level.
