The delimitation debate highlights a conflict between equal vote value (democracy) and the representation of States (federalism).
One person, one vote principle means every voter should have equal representation, so all Lok Sabha constituencies should have roughly the same number of electors.
India is a "union of States," each with its own identity and power, so delimitation must balance individual voter representation with the States' rights.
Two-step process:
First, apportion Lok Sabha seats among States based on population.
Then, divide each State into constituencies ensuring roughly equal population representation.
The 84th and 87th amendments separated the two steps.
Apportionment among States was based on the 1971 Census, and within States, constituencies were based on the 2001 Census.
Imbalance in vote value:
By 2024, the value of votes differs across States.
For example, MPs from Kerala represent 13.9 lakh electors, while MPs from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar represent 19.3 lakh electors.
Value of vote comparison:
The value of a vote is calculated by comparing a State’s population per MP to the national median.
States like Kerala have higher vote value per person, while Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have lower vote value.
If delimitation is done based on current populations, Rajasthan could gain more seats, while Kerala could lose seats.
A new delimitation would change the representation balance between States, affecting their influence in the Lok Sabha.
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