On May 28, 2023, after a jubilious inauguration of the ‘New’
Indian Parliament, PM Modi stated that the number of seats and MPs will be
increased. The Sansad Bhavan now accommodates up to 1,272 seats (a threefold
increase) to facilitate “inclusive and robust democratic proceedings.” India
stands at a threshold in balancing democratic representation with federal
considerations.
Constitutional Provisions and Account of Delimitation
The Constitution of India under Article 82 and Article 170
empowers the Parliament to re-adjust the allocation of seats in the Lok Sabha
and the Legislative Assemblies of States respectively after every census to
uphold the democratic principle of "one citizen-one vote-one value."
However in 15 (fifteen) decennial censuses only 4 (four) delimitations have
been exercised, 2002 being the last after the 2001 census.
The colonial rule de-industrialized India, draining its
wealth and ‘transferred’ a myriad of issues, of which were- systemic racism,
poverty, social and economic inequality. To overcome these challenges,
independent India in its First Five Year Plan itself introduced Family Planning
and Population Control to lower fertility rates and slow-down population growth
as a means to propel economic development.
Eventually, the constitutional mandate to conduct
delimitation after every census had to be frozen for parity in population
growth across States. This was done through the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 till
the year 2000 and was extended by the 84th Amendment Act of 2001 till 2026.
The North Vs. South
Not long ago, the English speakers in the South routinely
referred to our North as ‘Upper India’, a sense of the North having an
upper-hand in the affairs of the nation with a larger region and population and
also encased within it the nation’s capital city- New Delhi.
The demographic divide has deepened further today. Bihar's
Population has seen a fourfold increase from 33 million in 1951 to over 130
million in 2021. Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, has had a more controlled and
gradual population growth, from 38 million in 1951 to around 80 million in
2021. Despite having only 18% of the country's population, the southern states
contribute 35% to the country's GDP. Whereas the northern states with 30% of
population contribute about 26%.
Given the nature of our country’s politics, the concerns of
the southern States regarding a potential unfair outcome are valid if
population strictly governs the allocation of seats. The South faces a risk of
losing significant representation in the Lok Sabha. Tamil Nadu’s MPs count
would be reduced to 32 from 39, Kerala’s from 20 to 15, whereas UP’s would
increase from 80 to 88 and Bihar’s from 40 to 46 (if re-adjusted according to
2011 census).
Thus, a delimitation that affects the political
representation of southern states that have been better at controlling their
populations goes against the philosophy for freezing the seats according to the
1971 census. Regardless of how the boundaries are defined, delimitation must
remain true to both representation and federalism.
MODI-fied Federalism
The Constitution of India calls for Cooperative Federalism,
yet, in the past years, we have seen the rise of a coercive and combative
federalism perhaps at the expense of the States; resorting to foisting of
Hindi, deploying independent and investigative agencies like the ED, CBI, IT
Dept. to clamp down political opponents, extensive use of cess and surcharges
affecting the divisible pool, misusing office of Governors and destabilizing
state governments and their programmes.
The principle of consultation and collaboration underlying a
healthy Centre-State relation has been left in the lurch, as is reminded from
the 4 (four) hour notice before imposing national lockdown using an obscure
provision of the Disaster Management Act, and the abrupt abrogation of Article
370.
The Modi government is arrogantly pushing for ‘One nation,
One Election’ to centralize even the electoral process. ONOE is a calculated
scheme to further erode states’ autonomy and limit regional representation.
This obsession for Upper-ness and One-ness in a diverse India remains a bone of
contention, even to the Naga Political Solution.
What about Nagaland?
The last delimitation in Nagaland was done in 1973. Since
then not only its demographic profile but its territory has undergone major
re-alignment. Nagaland has recorded a significant increase in population-
516,449 in the 1971 census to 19,78,502 in the 2011 census, and from 7
districts in 1973 to now 17 districts. These major developments since 1973 must
be accounted for and should lead to an increased number of representatives in a
more populated region fulfilling the principle of “one citizen-one vote-one
value’.
Recent delimitations in Jammu and Kashmir (2022) and Assam
(2023) have emitted warning signals. These delimitation commissions have not
shied away from gerrymandering- manipulating electoral boundaries for political
gains.
Delimitation is a constitutional mandate vital for improving
governance, resource distribution and balancing political power. Ensuring a
fair and equitable political representation comes first in addressing social
and economic disparities.
Way Forward
The Constitutional scheme in ensuring a democratic
representation- that each person's vote carries roughly the same weight holds
true, so is the concern for a robust federalism. The upcoming delimitation must
harmonise and reconcile this loggerhead by giving equal importance to
both.
Considering (broadly) that MPs are to legislate matters on
the Union List and hold the central government accountable, matters and
interests of constituencies are best left to the MLAs. Would it not cause more
disruptions if MPs were to represent their constituencies in the Parliament?
Suggestions include; considering state’s fiscal contribution along with
population as a parametre, capping the Lok Sabha and increasing the number of
MLAs in each state as per population. Rajya Sabha MPs only represent their
respective states and act as check and balance on the Lok Sabha. Therefore, in
the best interest of federalism, equal representation to each state can be
given. Local bodies such as panchayats and municipalities, which engage with
citizens on a day-to-day basis must be empowered to strengthen participative
democracy.
Given the political sensitivity and impact of the issue,
wide consultation with states, communities, and social formations and political
sagacity and statesmanship of the highest order in the ‘New Parliament’ would
be required. The ‘New Parliament’ cannot afford to hastily pass bills without
debates and deliberations. A nation with an ambitious goal of striving to reach
the higher pedestals of global power must prioritize the fundamental task of
accurately determining the voices of its population.
In conclusion, India’s founding fathers had the wisdom to
understand that this subcontinent called India will only survive only when
there is equal respect for its citizens. It is in the commitment to uphold and
practice acceptance and tolerance. For in the words of our founding PM Nehruji
“who lives if India dies”.
Rampisinang Pipi Newme
(Student of Political Science and keen observer of political
issues)
