Concern is not number of LS seats, who benefits 'disproportionately': Siddaramaiah on delimitation
Bengaluru (PTI): Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent remarks on Lok Sabha seats, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said the concern is not whether the number of seats are increased, but how the expansion is carried out and who benefits "disproportionately".
He alleged that having "failed" to win the trust of southern people, the Modi government is now attempting to weaken the region's voice through a "manipulative restructuring of representation."
PM Modi had on Thursday said that Lok Sabha seats would not be reduced in South Indian states that have successfully controlled population, and that the total number of seats will increase to benefit states across the country.
Addressing an NDA Assembly election rally at Thiruvalla in Kerala, Modi said, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, which adjourned on Thursday, will reconvene on April 16 for three days to take up legislation, including increasing Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816 to implement women's reservation.
In a post on 'X', Siddaramaiah said, "I welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally opening his mouth on the proposed delimitation exercise. This sudden concern for reassuring southern states appears less like statesmanship and more like election-driven messaging, timed conveniently with political calculations in states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu."
"Let us be clear, the issue has never been about whether the number of Lok Sabha seats of southern states increases. The concern is about how they increase - and who benefits disproportionately."
Noting that every state may see an increase, the rate and scale of increase clearly favour BJP-dominated states, the CM said, "Uttar Pradesh is expected to go from 80 to 120 seats (+40), Maharashtra from 48 to 72 (+24), Bihar from 40 to 60 (+20), Madhya Pradesh from 29 to 43–44 (+14–15), Rajasthan from 25 to 37–38 (+12–13), and Gujarat from 26 to 39 (+13)."
"In contrast, southern states see smaller gains. Karnataka rises from 28 to 42 (+14), Tamil Nadu from 39 to 58–59 (+20), Andhra Pradesh from 25 to 37–38 (+12–13), Telangana from 17 to 25–26 (+8–9), and Kerala from 20 to 30 (+10).
"The numbers are telling. Five southern states together gain barely 63–66 additional seats, while just these seven BJP-dominated states gain about 128–131 seats - nearly double."
He argued that after the expansion of the Lok Sabha to 816 seats, the collective share of southern states would remains around 24 per cent "unchanged and already modest".
Siddaramaiah claimed that states that performed better in population control and governance are being penalised, and Karnataka - a key driver of national growth - risks being deliberately sidelined.
"If our share does not improve while the numerical dominance of larger states grows, what exactly is Karnataka gaining from this exercise?"he asked.
"The result is a widening imbalance," he pointed out, adding that today, Uttar Pradesh has 52 more seats than Karnataka - this gap will increase to 78. Maharashtra’s lead over Karnataka will expand from 20 to 30 seats.
This is not just expansion; it is concentration of power, he said. "This is not cooperative federalism - this is another blatant assault on federalism, designed to concentrate power and silence states like Karnataka."
He allegd, "Having failed to win the trust of southern people, the Modi government is now attempting to weaken our voice through a manipulative restructuring of representation."
Such a structural change cannot be pushed without consultations or public debate, Siddaramaiah said adding that at a time of economic and global challenges, the union government is more focused on political arithmetic over national priorities.
"The people of Karnataka - and all who believe in federalism - deserve fairness, respect, and transparency. We will firmly oppose any attempt to weaken our voice," he said.
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Air India suspends flights to Israel till May 31
Jerusalem (PTI): Amid the ongoing war in West Asia, Air India has suspended its flights to Israel till May 31.
An Air India executive confirmed to PTI that the airline has suspended flights on the New Delhi-Tel Aviv route till May 31.
Most of the leading airlines have suspended their operations on the Tel Aviv route with only Israeli carriers like El Al, IsraAir, Arkia and Air Haifa operating under severe restrictions.
The suspension of flights has caused major worries among more than 40,000 Indians living in Israel who wish to travel to India for personal or professional reasons, or even to escape the escalating tensions in the region.
Indians looking to leave Israel have to go through Jordan or Egypt by entering the two countries through the land crossings.
The Indian mission in Tel Aviv has been assisting those looking to travel through various means.
The embassy has also maintained regular contact with the community during the period, opening a 24x7 emergency line and also launching a massive registration drive.
Ambassador J P Singh and the embassy team on Saturday held virtual discussion with Indian workers and students across Israel to listen to their concerns, assuring them of “constant support during the ongoing crisis, and beyond”, the mission said on its social media handle.
The direct flight service between New Delhi and Tel Aviv was re-launched on January 1 with four weekly flights, utilising the advanced Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
However, flights have been disrupted ever since the US and Israel jointly attacked Iran on February 28.
The retaliation by the Islamic Republic extended the war to the entire Gulf region. The conflict has taken a major toll on energy supply chains, especially across the Strait of Hormuz.
