Federalism is Not a Gift, But a Right: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan at JAC Meeting

Chennai: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, speaking at the Joint Action Committee for Fair Delimitation meeting in Chennai on Saturday, asserted, "Federalism is not a gift from the Union, but a right of the states." The meeting, hosted by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, brought together political leaders from states expected to be impacted by the proposed delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies. Among the attendees were Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The leaders collectively voiced their opposition to the BJP-led Union government's proposed delimitation, emphasizing the need to protect the federal structure of the country.
Pinarayi Vijayan, in his speech, highlighted the looming threat of delimitation, which he described as hanging over the states "like the sword of Damocles." He accused the Union Government of pushing forward with the delimitation process without consultation, driven by narrow political interests rather than constitutional principles or democratic imperatives. Vijayan warned that if delimitation is carried out based solely on population based on the latest Census, it would lead to a significant increase in parliamentary seats for northern states while reducing representation for states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Odisha, West Bengal, and Punjab. This, he said, would disproportionately benefit the BJP, which holds greater influence in the north.
The Kerala CM pointed out that southern states have effectively implemented the National Population Policy of 1976, which aimed to control population growth. As a result, these states have seen a decline in population growth rates since the last delimitation in 1973. However, instead of being rewarded for their efforts, they are now being penalized with reduced representation in Parliament and a smaller share of central funds. “Our states are being punished precisely for our sincere implementation of the National Population Policy,” Pinarayi Vijayan stated. He emphasized that Kerala’s population growth rate was a mere 4.92% between 2001 and 2011, compared to the national average of 17.7%. Despite this achievement, Kerala’s share of parliamentary seats and central taxes has dwindled. For instance, Kerala’s share in tax devolution dropped from 3.875% during the 10th Finance Commission to just 1.925% in the 15th Finance Commission.
Pinarayi Vijayan argued that the proposed delimitation undermines India’s federal structure, which is designed to protect regional identities and balance central authority. He cited Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s warnings against the “tyranny of the majority” and the Sarkaria Commission’s assertion that federalism is a fundamental feature of the Constitution. He also highlighted the cultural and linguistic implications of delimitation, warning that redrawing constituencies solely on the basis of population would marginalize regions that have preserved their distinct identities. “India’s strength lies in its plurality,” he said, pointing to state-specific initiatives like Kerala’s ‘Kudumbashree’ and Tamil Nadu’s mid-day meal scheme, which have become national models.
The Kerala CM stressed that delimitation should not be carried out unilaterally but through consensus, as mandated by Article 82 of the Constitution. He criticized the Union Government for delaying delimitation in the past based on political convenience and now pushing for it without addressing the concerns of affected states. He declared the resistance a fight to preserve India’s soul as a diverse and inclusive democracy.
M.K. Stalin, in his speech, said the state's voice for justice was ignored because it did not have enough political strength to attract the nation's attention. "Decreasing our representation in Parliament will reduce our political strength," he said. Stalin cited the Centre's silence on over two years of violence in Manipur as an example of government inaction in states without adequate political strength. He stressed that this struggle is not against delimitation itself but for demanding a fair delimitation.
The meeting saw the participation of representatives from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Odisha, West Bengal, and Punjab. As a significant step, the Joint Action Committee passed a resolution seeking to freeze the delimitation process for the next 25 years. The resolution underscores the demand for an equitable formula that does not penalize states that have successfully implemented population control measures.