Congress Raises Concerns Over Census Impact on Political Representation
New Delhi: The Congress party on Monday questioned whether the long-delayed national census would influence the allocation of Lok Sabha seats, emphasizing that the success of South Indian states in family planning should not result in reduced political representation in Parliament.
Congress General Secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, expressed concerns that South Indian states, which have made significant progress in family planning, could be penalized for their achievements. He highlighted that Kerala was the first state to reach replacement fertility levels in 1988, followed by Tamil Nadu in 1993, Andhra Pradesh in 2001, and Karnataka in 2005.
Ramesh noted that there has been ongoing apprehension that the successful family planning initiatives could negatively impact these states’ representation in the Lok Sabha. He referenced a constitutional amendment made by the Vajpayee government in 2001, which stipulated that adjustments to Lok Sabha seats would depend on the census conducted after 2026.
He explained that while the first census after 2026 would typically refer to the 2031 census, the decennial schedule has been disrupted, and the census scheduled for 2021 has yet to take place.
Ramesh pointed out, “We now keep hearing that the long-delayed census will start soon. Will this be used for the allocation of seats in the Lok Sabha? There can be no doubt that success should not be penalized.” He urged for the development of suitable formulas to ensure that the achievements of these states do not lead to a decrease in their political representation.
The Congress party’s statements underscore the importance of fair representation and the potential implications of census data on political power dynamics within the country.
