Karnataka seeks Lok Sabha seat freeze: ‘Our success mustn’t shrink our voice’

During the 31st session of the Southern Zonal Council on Thursday, Karnataka's Chief Minister D K Shivakumar called on regional leaders to lobby the government to maintain the current number of Lok Sabha seats and integrate women's reservation within that limit. Addressing this at a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, Shivakumar argued that the southern states had effectively managed population growth and their political success should not result in diminished representation.

"Our economic weight must be matched with political voice," he emphasized, insisting that the success of southern states should not translate into a reduction of their political weight.

Shivakumar affirmed the government's promise that southern states would not lose any Lok Sabha seats, but stressed that representation involves more than just numerical figures. "Our voice must not be allowed to shrink," he stressed, urging the Council to adopt a resolution to freeze the Lok Sabha's seat count and incorporate women's reservation within the existing numbers.

He further urged the Centre to reevaluate the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill of 2026, which he claimed "undermines the states' authority to tax major minerals," a provision safeguarded by a nine-judge Supreme Court panel. Shivakumar also highlighted the Mekedatu project, stressing its significance for both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. "The Mekedatu project is crucial for farmers in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry," he pointed out.