India’s southern states are strongly opposing a proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to redraw parliamentary constituency boundaries, arguing that the move could lead to reduced representation for them in comparison to the more populous northern states.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has called for a meeting on Wednesday with leaders from over 40 political parties to intensify protests against the central government’s plan to redefine constituencies in 2026 based on population. He criticized the proposal, calling it an attempt to “reduce our representation and crush our voice.”

The five southern states, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, contribute nearly 30% of India’s GDP and have successfully controlled population growth through various reforms. However, leaders in the region argue that they are being unfairly penalized for their progress, as the delimitation process could shift political power towards northern states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which have significantly larger populations but remain among India’s poorest regions.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has called for the exercise to be conducted only after a proper national census. “Population size alone cannot be the metric for delimitation,” he stated, emphasizing the need for a new formula that accounts for economic and social factors.

Despite assurances from Union Home Minister Amit Shah that no southern state will lose parliamentary seats, leaders such as Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah remain skeptical. “Shah’s comments are not credible,” he stated, reflecting the growing distrust between southern leaders and the central government over the issue.

The debate over delimitation comes amid a delay in India’s 2021 census, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the last census conducted in 2011, the exact population figures remain unclear, further complicating the process of redrawing electoral boundaries.

As tensions rise, southern leaders are pushing for a more balanced approach, ensuring that states that have successfully controlled their population do not face political disadvantages. The outcome of this debate could have significant implications for India’s electoral landscape ahead of the 2026 delimitation exercise.