Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday accused the BJP-led central Union govt of using delimitation as a political tool, warning that linking it to women’s reservation could deepen regional fault lines and trigger widespread unrest across southern states.Speaking to reporters in Delhi after attending the Congress Working Committee meeting, Revanth said the women’s reservation bill can be implemented with the current strength of 543 members in the Lok Sabha and questioned the rationale behind tying it to a future delimitation exercise.“The Congress fully supports the women’s reservation bill. It was the Congress which originally introduced the women quota bill in the past and stands by it. But what is the urgency to link women quota with delimitation when it can be implemented with the present strength in the Lok Sabha,” he said.He argued that southern states, which contribute nearly 40% to the national economy, deserve proportional political representation and warned against any move that could dilute their voice in Parliament. Revanth said if the Centre proceeds with delimitation without consulting southern states, it could spark protests similar to the farmers’ agitation that forced the rollback of the three farm laws.He also called for incorporating OBC reservations within the proposed 33% women’s quota. “The BJP appears to be rushing the quota bill in haste for political mileage in elections, and also attempting to widen the gap between the North and South states,” he alleged.He cautioned that the new seat distribution formula could disproportionately benefit populous northern states, potentially allowing a govt to be formed at the Centre with support of just four or five North Indian states.The reorganisation of constituencies will result in injustice to smaller states and the southern states. Smaller states will become smaller while larger states will grow even bigger. Kerala has 20 seats, they will increase to 30, and Uttar Pradesh from 80 seats to 120, if a 50% increase formula is applied, he said.“The southern states are economic powerhouses; they serve as the economic pillars supporting the nation. The northern states are political powerhouses; that is precisely why individuals from the North secure the most prominent political positions. The southern states are already being shortchanged, and this move will only exacerbate injustice,” he alleged.On former minister T Jeevan Reddy quitting Congress and planning to join the BRS, Revanth alleged BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao meted out injustice and compelled senior leaders to leave the BRS, including Devender Goud, Eatala Rajender, A Narendra, Vijayashanti, Jupally Krishna Rao and Tummala Nageswara Rao.
