Resolution 

Ensure Equitable and Just Delimitation 

The 24th Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) firmly opposes any delimitation process that diminishes or reduces the proportional share of representation of any state in Parliament. The Congress urges the Central Government to engage in extensive consultations with political parties and state governments to build a broad consensus on this crucial issue. 

With the freeze on the number of seats in Parliament and legislative assemblies set to end next year, a fresh round of delimitation will be required following the first census conducted after 2026. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment, enacted during the Emergency in 1976, initially froze seat allocations to promote population control measures. This freeze was later extended until 2026 by the Vajpayee government. 

Historically, delimitation exercises were conducted in 1952, 1963, and 1973.

However, following the 1976 freeze, subsequent adjustments were postponed to address concerns over population-based redistribution. Despite the 2001 Census, the freeze remained in place due to strong opposition from southern states, which feared an unfair reduction in their representation. 

As the freeze is set to expire, a new delimitation process could significantly reshape political representation, disproportionately affecting states such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Odisha, West Bengal, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Many of these states, which have successfully implemented population control measures, risk losing representation, while states with higher population growth rates may gain an undue advantage. Even if the overall number of seats is increased, a purely population-based approach would still result in disproportionate allocations favouring states like Uttar Pradesh. 

The 24th Congress of the CPI(M) is committed to an equitable and just federal framework that respects the rights of all states while maintaining national unity and cohesion, and resolves that: 

1. Any delimitation framework must prevent the disproportionate advantage to any particular region or state, and the interests of states that have successfully controlled population growth must be protected.

2. A pro-rata seat increase should be adopted to expand parliamentary representation while maintaining the existing proportional seat distribution among states, ensuring fair and balanced representation.

3. The proportion of SC/ST seats, at present, in different states must be protected.

4. The Government of India must conduct comprehensive consultations with all states to ensure that the delimitation process upholds the principles of equity, federalism, secularism and national unity.

5. In the absence of a broad consensus on the delimitation process, the freeze on seat allocation should be extended further to safeguard federal integrity.