[Marxistindia] Resolution adopted at the 24th Congress of CPI(M)

news from the cpi(m) marxistindia at cpim.org
Fri Apr 4 15:23:45 IST 2025


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.

 

***

 

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