The Congress Party is fully backing regional forces that aim to strengthen the federal structure of India and challenge the central government’s “unfair and unjust” delimitation of Lok Sabha seats. As part of this effort, the Congress dispatched two leaders – Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister and Telangana’s Chief Minister – to attend a Delimitation Meeting organized by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in Chennai on Saturday.

During this vital meeting, Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar expressed solidarity with Tamil Nadu and other states in the fight to safeguard the nation’s federal fabric. He emphasized, “We are at a pivotal moment in India’s history. The foundation of our democracy—federalism—is under threat. The very pillars of our federal democracy, established by Babasaheb Ambedkar and the framers of our Constitution, are being dismantled.”

Shivakumar pointed out that states such as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu face a significant choice: to submit or to resist, stating emphatically, “We choose resistance.” He criticized the proposed delimitation exercise, which is based solely on population, as more than a technical measure—it’s a political attack on the southern states designed to penalize them for their achievements in managing population growth, enhancing literacy, and empowering women.

“Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and other southern states have made significant contributions to India’s growth through investment in education, healthcare, and sustainable development. However, the central government’s plan to reduce our parliamentary representation effectively silences our voices in national discussions. This is not only unjust; it betrays the constitutional promise that development and good governance should be rewarded, not punished,” he asserted.

He highlighted that Karnataka contributes over ₹4 lakh crore annually to the Centre’s gross tax revenue, yet in return, receives only ₹45,000 crore in tax devolution and ₹15,000 crore in grants. “For every rupee Karnataka pays, just 13 paise returns to us. This is not merely an economic injustice; it reflects a systematic resource plunder,” Shivakumar said.

He further noted, “Karnataka represents only 5% of India’s population but contributes 8.4% to the national GDP. We are the highest GST contributors in India, yet southern states, contributing 35% of the GDP, are treated merely as ATM machines for the North, while receiving an unfairly small share of central funds.” He warned that the proposed delimitation based on the 15th Finance Commission’s population-based formula would further diminish their political voice and weaken their ability to advocate for their rights in Parliament.

Shivakumar stressed that this struggle is not merely numerical; it encompasses their identity, culture, and heritage. “Karnataka boasts a 1,500-year-old literary tradition—from the Vachanas of Basavanna to the writings of Kuvempu. Tamil Nadu’s Sangam poetry, Kerala’s classical arts, and Andhra’s Telugu heritage are not just regional treasures—they are part of India’s soul. The Centre’s push for ‘One Nation, One Language’ threatens to erase this diversity.”

He articulated concerns regarding language imposition, stating, “From railway signboards to competitive exams, the forced use of Hindi undermines our linguistic and cultural sovereignty. Let it be clear: Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and other regional languages are not mere dialects; they are integral to our civilizations.”

He called on the current leaders to take inspiration from past luminaries like Periyar, Ambedkar, Basavanna, Annadurai, and Narayana Guru, who fought for social justice, equality, and linguistic rights. “The delimitation exercise is not just about seat allocation; it is a battle for the future of federalism in India. If the Centre implements this unjust formula, it will disrupt the federal balance in favor of states that have not effectively controlled population growth,” he cautioned.

This approach threatens not only the southern states but also the principles of cooperative federalism enshrined in our Constitution. “The Karnataka Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution rejecting any delimitation effort based on the new census. We demand that the 1971 Census be used for delimitation, which acknowledges states for their achievements in population control and sustainable development,” he added.

Shivakumar clarified that this is not a confrontation between the North and the South.