Govt counters oppn, says South will gain LS seats under new formula | India News
NEW DELHI: Under a formula that proposes increasing the share of all states proportionally and by 50% in the Lok Sabha, Kerala’s share will rise from 20 to 30, seven more than what it got under the last “completed” count. Karnataka’s Lok Sabha seats will increase from 28 to 42, one more than what was achieved.Andhra Pradesh, which now has 25 seats, will have 37 seats, again four more than its expected number. Neighboring Odisha’s representation will increase from 21 to 31, while the census-based practice will limit it to 28. Telangana seats will go from 17 to 25 instead of 24.As opposition parties make their strides on the issue, the statement, detailing gains and refuting arguments that the bills will dilute the South, remains to be seen whether the government will find the numbers needed to reach the two-thirds threshold for passage of the constitutional amendment bill.Government sources, however, made an unequivocal statement that the 2011 census would not be the basis for the distribution of Lok Sabha seats and that the reference was to the electoral delimitation of state assemblies, which would certainly increase the cost for the Congress and others if they decide to oppose the laws framed to enforce women’s quota in the 2020 Lok Sabha.“They maintain that they are for women’s quota, but they are worried that the share of southern states in the LS will go down. Once the truth comes out, they will not be able to hide behind logic,” said a government official, adding that the BJP was already preparing for a political battle to force the issue of women’s rights through the LS-A Bill on Friday.
