No To Delimitation If It Hurts State, South Interests: KTR
He stated that under the leadership of K Chandrasekhar Rao, the previous BRS government not only supported the Women's Reservation Bill but also passed resolutions in both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
HYDERABAD: The BRS on Wednesday said it will not allow the Centre to get away doing as it pleases on delimitation of constituencies warning that any move that impacts the representation of south India, will be opposed strongly.
Party working president K.T. Rama Rao told reporters that while the BRS backs the Women’s Reservation Bill, it is opposed to linking this legislation with the Constitutional amendment for delimitation of electoral constituencies.
The BRS, he said, has been raising concerns over delimitation since 2022–23 using only population as the sole basis for increasing parliamentary seats. The 1971 freeze on parliamentary seats was based on population control considerations. Over the past five decades, southern states have successfully implemented family planning measures. “Are we now going to be penalised for following national policy?” he asked.
South India currently accounts for approximately 24 per cent representation in the Lok Sabha, and this proportion must be protected at all costs. “Even a 0.01 per cent reduction is unacceptable. The six southern states together hold about 24 per cent of Lok Sabha seats, and this must remain intact. Any attempt to alter this will face strong resistance,” he warned.
He said, “The BRS under the leadership of K. Chandrashekar Rao, fully supported the Women’s Reservation Bill. But the unnecessary linkage being made now between women’s reservation, delimitation, and constitutional amendments, are uncalled for,” he said.
Attacking Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Rama Rao called him a “hybrid Chief Minister,” alleging inconsistencies in his political stance. “In the morning he represents Congress, by evening he aligns with BJP. This approach reflects in governance as well,” he said. The Chief Minister is practising double standards. He demands procedures from others, but ignores the same as was the case with division of Hyderabad into three corporations without consulting GHMC representatives, ZPTC members, or MLAs, he said.
