Impact of delimitation
Realising the anomaly that a delimitation based on Census data would cause, a delimitation freeze was put in position by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi through the 42nd Amendment of the Constitution in 1976.
This was extended by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee through the 84th Amendment.
States that take little interest in population control could end up with a greater number of seats in Parliament.
The southern states that promoted family planning faced the possibility of having their seats reduced.
Way forward
Go in for another freeze, this time not for any specific period but for until all States have achieved population stabilisation.
Request to demographic and statistical experts to devise a mathematical model along the lines of the ‘Cambridge Compromise’.
It was based on a mathematically equitable “formula” for the apportionment of the seats of the European Parliament between the member-states.
That formula cannot be applied to our situation as such but needs to be studied so as to customise it for our needs.
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