Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a party symbol during a roadshow ahead of the Kerala assembly elections, in Thiruvalla, Kerala on April 4, 2026. Photo: narendramodi.in via PTI
States that have stabilized their population will not lose their Lok Sabha seats and all states will benefit from the proposed increase in the size of the House, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at an election rally in Central Travancore, Kerala.
Ahead of the 2029 general elections, the Center plans to amend the constitution and related laws to redraw the country’s electoral map, halving the size of the House and state assemblies, with a third of the total reserved for women. Parliament’s budget session will reconvene on April 16 to discuss these amendments.
For the first time, Mr. Modi was responding to concerns that states that had stabilized their populations would have reduced representation in the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister said the government wants to address these concerns. “There are states – be it Kerala, Tamil Nadu or others – that have done an exemplary job of population control. But some individuals are spreading misinformation and claiming that their parliamentary seat allocations will be reduced due to the slowdown in their population growth. We intend to give a definite assurance on this matter in Parliament during this session. We want to formally seal this assurance with no legislation, Karna Tamil, and ensure that Andhra Pradesh, Goa or Telangana – the number will be reduced seats in the Lok Sabha.
Pathanamthitta district, where Mr Modi spoke, has the lowest total fertility rate – the number of children born per thousand population – in the country. At 1.3, the district’s TFR is well below the replacement level of 2.1. In the last delimitation of 2008, the district’s representation in the Kerala Assembly was reduced from eight seats to five. Southern states have expressed concern that they would be disadvantaged by interstate redistribution of Lok Sabha seats on the basis of population.
Mr Modi campaigned for BJP candidate Anoop Antony in Thiruvalla and other candidates from neighboring constituencies.
Existing laws require a post-2026 census redelineation, with states gaining or losing their proportional strength in the Lok Sabha according to their population share, with one-third of the seats reserved for women. The Modi government now plans to amend the laws so that the delimitation exercise can begin immediately and be carried out before the 2029 elections.
Although there is no official word yet, the government has told party representatives that the state-wise share in the Lok Sabha, which is currently based on the 1971 census, will remain unchanged after the delimitation. Mr. Modi said the seats would not be reduced, but did not specify whether he meant the absolute number of seats for each state or their respective share.
“It is our government – and our only one – that has provided 33% reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha and the State Legislatures. As you all know, instead of concluding the budget session as scheduled, we have extended it. Parliament is scheduled to reconvene for three days – April 16, 17 and 18 (with a view to accomplishing the first two concrete tasks… fearing that states will lose seats in the Lok Sabha), the second is to ensure that the seats reserved for women are created as additional seats, thereby increasing the total number of seats, which would be of immense benefit to our states in South India.
Mr Modi said the government was discussing the proposal with all parties. “We have invited the members of the Congress party. I also urge you – inform the public, speak to the members of the Congress and convey this message to the members of the LDF: women’s rights legislation must be passed unanimously and without opposition. You must extract this pledge from them; moreover, I myself sincerely appeal to them – the rights of our mothers and sisters have remained in limbo again. I therefore call on the mothers and sisters of this nation to put pressure on all political parties, let them all come to Parliament and secure the passage of this vital legislation to increase the representation of women in public office, the necessary changes to the Women’s Empowerment Act will be incorporated.
Published – 04 Apr 2026 21:38 IST
