NEW DELHI: Amid the debate over the impact that Lok Sabha delimitation on population criteria will have on the political weight of southern states, YSR Congress Party of Andhra Pradesh has demanded that the Modi govt spell out the mechanism by which it will ensure that the states which followed the policy of population control do not lose out in the process. YSRCP leader in Lok Sabha P V Midhun Reddy said the party agrees with home minister Amit Shah’s comment that there should be a proportionate increase in the LS seats of southern states.
Reddy said his party is weighing its options about the invite from DMK head and Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin for attending a meeting of the joint action committee formed to fight for the cause of states that may suffer if delimitation is done on the population criteria.
“We are thinking about it. We will attend or send a letter of support, though we are not part of the group (JAC). We are still to take a decision,” Reddy told TOI.
Calling the delimitation debate as important, Reddy said YSRCP is in agreement with the statement HM Shah made in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu that “whatever number of seats are increased (across India), the south will have an increase proportionately.” He, however, added, “But we need to know the system by which the delimitation would be done to ensure a proportionate increase for states like Andhra Pradesh. Whether it requires a constitutional amendment or what mechanism is required, that should be spelt out.”
Reddy said southern states should be given fair treatment because they followed the national call for population control.
The remark from YSRCP is significant as the party has been engaged in a fine balancing act between being friendly to the governing BJP and Modi govt, and to come across as independent. While YSRCP was firmly with the central govt in the 17th Lok Sabha when party chief Jagan Mohan Reddy was the Andhra CM, the 18th LS has created a complication as YSRCP lost power in Andhra to arch-rival TDP of Chandrababu Naidu, which is also a partner in the Modi govt.
Having taken the lead in the delimitation debate, the DMK has invited all the political parties and chief ministers for a meeting to discuss the nettlesome subject in Chennai on March 22.
