Congress Rajya Sabha member Praveen Chakravarty argued on Sunday against population-based delimitation, stating that a uniform 50 percent rise in Lok Sabha seats across states would mislead the public. Speaking to The Hindu in Chennai, he noted that the Tamil Nadu Congress opposes any seat adjustment tied to population growth. He warned that Tamil Nadu’s representation could drop to about 30 seats, penalizing the state for its successful population control. Using Uttar Pradesh’s 80 seats versus the combined 40 for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as an example, he explained that a 50 percent increase would widen the existing gap, turning a 40-seat difference into 60 seats and further marginalizing southern states. Chakravarty added that the Congress plans to keep the total at 543 seats after 2029. He also observed that recent youth protests in New Delhi reflect a generational demand for honest politics free from establishment influence, a trend visible in Tamil Nadu’s recent elections. He described the strong support for the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam as a genuine call for change rather than mere popularity, noting public fatigue with corruption and opportunism.
