Union home minister Amit Shah NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah told the Lok Sabha on Thursday that the five southern states would together see their representation in the House rise from 129 seats to 195 once the proposed expansion of the Lower House takes effect, dismissing claims that the Centre’s delimitation plan would reduce their political weight as “false narrative” meant to mislead people.Speaking during the debate on the women’s reservation-related amendment bills and the proposed delimitation framework, Shah said the total strength of the Lok Sabha would rise to 816 seats, though the legislation mentions a ceiling of 850 because that figure is rounded. He explained that 816 reflects a precise 50 per cent increase over the current 543 elected seats. Watch Women’s Reservation Bill: Amit Shah, Akhilesh Yadav Face Off Over Demands For Quota Within Bill Breaking down the southern states’ revised numbers, Shah said: “Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka will increase to 42 from the present 28; in Andhra Pradesh, the number of Lok Sabha sets will increase to 38 from 25; in Telangana, it will be 26 from present 17; in Tamil Nadu, the number of Lok Sabha seats will go up to 59 from the present 39; and in Kerala, it will be 30 seats from the present 20,” he said.He added that the southern states’ combined share in the Lok Sabha would edge up slightly, from 23.76 per cent at present to 23.87 per cent, close to 24 per cent overall.Rejecting opposition allegations that the government could manipulate the delimitation exercise, Shah said the current bill mirrors earlier legal provisions introduced under previous governments. “The delimitation bill is exactly like the previous law brought by your government. There is no change, not even a comma or a full stop,” he said.On the women’s reservation measure, Shah clarified that the quota would not take effect immediately and would apply only from the 2029 general election onward. Until then, he said, every election, including the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, would continue under the existing electoral structure.Addressing Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav directly, Shah remarked: “Akhilesh ji, you don’t need to worry even though you are not going to win the elections in Uttar Pradesh,” he said.He also dismissed suggestions that the timing of the women’s reservation bill was linked to the upcoming West Bengal elections.On caste enumeration, Shah said the government had already approved a caste census and it would be conducted alongside the population census process. Referring to criticism from the Samajwadi Party, he said: “Right now, the counting of households is underway and the households do not have any caste. If the Samajwadi Party had its way, it would determine the caste of households as well,” he said.The Lok Sabha is currently considering the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Delimitation Bill, 2026. Under the proposed framework, the expanded 816-member Lok Sabha would include 272 seats reserved for women, amounting to one-third of the House.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’If Chanakya Were Alive…’: Priyanka Gandhi’s Swipe At Amit Shah Over Delimitation, Women QuotaNo More Russian Oil Waiver: What The US Decision Means For India’s Energy Needs Amid West Asia CrisisAustria’s Chancellor Calls India Key Partner, Pushes India-EU Trade Deal Amid Global TurmoilLok Sabha Erupts As Sawant Names Sengar, Brij Bhushan; Dubey Hits Back With Aaditya Thackeray Claim‘Not A Backdoor Exercise’: Tejasvi Surya Counters Opposition On Delimitation, Flags Representation Risks’Will Pay A Price For A Long Time’: PM Modi Warns Oppn In Lok Sabha Over Women Quota BillNaari Vs Naara: Akhilesh Yadav Questions Women’s Bill Timing, Flags OBC Quota, Census Concerns’Women’s Reservation Or Delimitation?’ Gaurav Gogoi Slams Govt Over ‘850 Seat’ Lok Sabha PlanIndia-Austria Partnership Enters New Era As PM Modi Pitches Speed And Scale Strategy GloballyCongress Slams Delimitation Bill As “Attack On Federalism” | Venugopal Targets Centre123Photostories8 most unusual monkeys in the world: From capuchins to mandrillsStep inside Chris Gayle’s ₹20 crore lavish Jamaica mansion with private nightclub, infinity pools and unbelievable ocean views!‘Are we eating all our mangoes’: Why despite being the largest producer of mangoes, India is able to export just 1 percentGold vs lab-grown diamonds: What should you really buy this Akshaya Tritiya?Top 5 posh residential areas in Gurugram for premium living7 local and comforting dishes to try in MangaloreWeekend binge list on OTT: From ‘Euphoria Season 3’ to ‘Do Deewane Seher Mein’Tamannaah Bhatia to Malaika Arora: 5 best celebrity looks of the week you might have missedSenior Cardiologist explains why your daily walk isn’t enough, and the one heart metric you should track insteadThis Sanjeev Kapoor-style Matthe Wale Aloo is all you need for dinner during summer123Hot PicksIran warDisney layoffsPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingTCS NashikPune Harassment NewsVaranasi Woman DeathLucknow Vikas Nagar Fire IncidentAmir HamzaUP Beggar MurderBengaluru Businessman NewsGurgaon Student SuicideGunika KhuranaJaisalmer Murder
Union home minister Amit Shah
NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah told the Lok Sabha on Thursday that the five southern states would together see their representation in the House rise from 129 seats to 195 once the proposed expansion of the Lower House takes effect, dismissing claims that the Centre’s delimitation plan would reduce their political weight as “false narrative” meant to mislead people.Speaking during the debate on the women’s reservation-related amendment bills and the proposed delimitation framework, Shah said the total strength of the Lok Sabha would rise to 816 seats, though the legislation mentions a ceiling of 850 because that figure is rounded. He explained that 816 reflects a precise 50 per cent increase over the current 543 elected seats.
Breaking down the southern states’ revised numbers, Shah said: “Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka will increase to 42 from the present 28; in Andhra Pradesh, the number of Lok Sabha sets will increase to 38 from 25; in Telangana, it will be 26 from present 17; in Tamil Nadu, the number of Lok Sabha seats will go up to 59 from the present 39; and in Kerala, it will be 30 seats from the present 20,” he said.He added that the southern states’ combined share in the Lok Sabha would edge up slightly, from 23.76 per cent at present to 23.87 per cent, close to 24 per cent overall.Rejecting opposition allegations that the government could manipulate the delimitation exercise, Shah said the current bill mirrors earlier legal provisions introduced under previous governments. “The delimitation bill is exactly like the previous law brought by your government. There is no change, not even a comma or a full stop,” he said.On the women’s reservation measure, Shah clarified that the quota would not take effect immediately and would apply only from the 2029 general election onward. Until then, he said, every election, including the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, would continue under the existing electoral structure.Addressing Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav directly, Shah remarked: “Akhilesh ji, you don’t need to worry even though you are not going to win the elections in Uttar Pradesh,” he said.He also dismissed suggestions that the timing of the women’s reservation bill was linked to the upcoming West Bengal elections.On caste enumeration, Shah said the government had already approved a caste census and it would be conducted alongside the population census process. Referring to criticism from the Samajwadi Party, he said: “Right now, the counting of households is underway and the households do not have any caste. If the Samajwadi Party had its way, it would determine the caste of households as well,” he said.The Lok Sabha is currently considering the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Delimitation Bill, 2026. Under the proposed framework, the expanded 816-member Lok Sabha would include 272 seats reserved for women, amounting to one-third of the House.
