Delimitation

Context: The recent announcement made by the Prime Minister of India during the inauguration of the new Parliament building highlighted a plan to expand the representation in Lok Sabha by increasing the number of seats and Members of Parliament (MPs). 

What is Delimitation?

• Delimitation refers to the process of redrawing the boundaries of constituencies or electoral areas. This process is carried out periodically to ensure that each constituency has a roughly equal number of voters, based on the principle of "one vote, one value." 
• After each census, a readjustment is to made in (a) allocation of seats in the Lok Sabha to the States, and (b) division of each state into territorial constituencies.
• Parliament is empowered to determine the authority and the manner in which it is to be made.
• Delimitation is necessary because population distribution changes over time, with some areas experiencing significant growth while others may decline. This can result in a situation where certain constituencies have a much larger or smaller number of voters compared to others, leading to an imbalance in representation.

About Delimitation Commission:

• Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India.
• Composition: Chief Election Commissioner, Retired Judge of Supreme Court and Election Commissioner of the concerned State.
• Orders of Delimitation Commission cannot be called in question before any court of law.
• The copies of its orders are laid before the House of People and State Legislative Assembly concerned, but no modifications are permissible therein by them.

Impact of Delimitation:

• Balancing the Political Power: Delimitation can alter the distribution of political power among different regions and communities. The Redrawal of the constituencies can impact the electoral prospects of political parties and candidates, potentially impacting the political dynamics and power balance within a particular region or state. E.g., During 2008 delimitation exercise, Jharkhand witnessed a significant realignment of political power when the boundaries of constituencies were redrawn.
• Addressing Demographic Shifts: In 2002, constituencies in states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu were redefined to address the substantial population growth in urban areas. It paved the way for better reflection of population changes and ensured that urban centers had adequate representation in the legislative bodies. 
• Minority Representation: Delimitation exercises have been instrumental in ensuring better representation for minority communities. In the 2008 delimitation exercise, constituencies in regions with a significant concentration of minority communities, such as Malappuram in Kerala, were adjusted to ensure their political interests were adequately represented. 
• Enhanced Gender Representation: Delimitation exercises have also contributed to improving gender representation in politics. E.g., during the 2008 delimitation exercise, the constituencies in certain states were redrawn to facilitate reservation of seats for women in local bodies, thereby promoting greater participation of women in the political process. 
• Fair Representation: Delimitation aims to ensure fair representation by readjusting the boundaries of constituencies based on population changes. It helps in balancing the number of voters per representative, ensuring that each vote holds relatively equal weight and upholding the democratic principle of "one person, one vote."

Issues associated with Delimitation:

• The delimitation exercise, aimed at rearranging and standardizing the number of people per constituency, may result in decreased representation for States that have achieved population stabilization. E.g., Kerala, Tamil Nadu. It may lead to increased representation for States that are still experiencing population growth and have not yet achieved stability.
• Delimitation exercises often face challenges in implementation due to logistical and administrative issues. For instance, the delimitation exercise planned for the state of Jammu and Kashmir faced delays and obstacles due to the unique circumstances and complexities of the region.

Roadmap for Future

• The Commission can choose to implement freezing of seats, until all States have achieved population stabilization. 
• Alternatively, Commission can develop a customized mathematical model inspired by the 'Cambridge Compromise'. This model would aim to provide a mathematically equitable formula for the allocation of seats, similar to the apportionment of seats in the European Parliament. #Best Practice
• It is essential to ensure that the delimitation process is carried out fairly, transparently, and with adequate consideration for the interests of all communities and regions.