Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Thursday said southern states Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka would be penalised in the delimitation of Lok Sabha seats for implementing family planning between 1970s and 1980s. He said there was a need to unite all the South Indian states and fight against the injustice to the states and proposed delimitation where population of the states would be criteria in deciding the number of seats.
“Our BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao directed me to attend the all-party meeting being organised by DMK party and CM MK Stalin in Chennai on March 22,” KTR told media.
The BRS has been opposing the delimitation based on the population for the past one year. KTR and party ex-MP B Vinod Kumar claimed that it was a conspiracy to benefit only the northern states, where the BJP has strongholds. They even said the party would protest against the proposed delimitation.
Highlighting the broader implications, he warned that determining parliamentary seats solely on population metrics would dilute the political voice of South Indian states in the Lok Sabha. “This is not just a Telangana issue; it’s a South India issue. If we don’t stand united now, our representation and influence in national decision-making will be unjustly diminished,” he cautioned.
KTR stressed the need for solidarity among southern states, asserting, “This is a moment for Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh to fight together. Unity is our strength, and if we join hands in this struggle, justice will surely prevail for South India.”
Earlier, a DMK delegation led by the Tamil Nadu municipal administration minister KN Nehru and MP NR Elango met KTR and extended invitation to the BRS.
Speaking to media, the DMK delegation said Tamil Nadu CM Stalin has been opposing and questioning the delimitation of seats based on the population, which will impact the southern states. After the all-party meeting, an action plan would be announced by the leaders, they said. The delegation thanked BRS for assuring to attend the meeting.
