India's unity faces a new challenge. Smaller states, particularly in the South, are banding together to oppose the government's planned delimitation—a constitutionally required process to redraw parliamentary constituencies based on population.
Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, and other small states fear that the upcoming census will result in them losing parliamentary seats to larger northern states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. They argue that they are being penalised for successfully controlling their population growth. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has called delimitation "a threat aimed at reducing our representation and silencing our voice."
However, delimitation presents an opportunity for small states—if they truly unite—to gain more representation and a stronger voice. By coming together, they can help reform Parliament, where many groups are underrepresented, and improve federalism, where all states are hindered by an overly dominant Centre.