Chandigarh, April 15
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa today raised serious concerns over the proposed redrawing of parliamentary and assembly constituencies, warning that the move threatens to distort the spirit of cooperative federalism and disproportionately impact states like Punjab that have maintained stable population growth.
Bajwa said that any attempt to restructure representation without safeguarding the interests of such states would amount to penalising them for their developmental progress and demographic discipline. “This is not merely a technical exercise; it carries far-reaching political consequences that can alter the balance of power between states,” he observed.
Explaining the real impact, Bajwa pointed out that while Punjab’s seats may increase numerically from 13 in the current House of 543 to around 19 in a proposed expanded House of nearly 850, its proportional strength will actually decline. “At present, Punjab accounts for about 2.4% of the Lok Sabha. Under the new arrangement, this will drop to nearly 2.2%. This clearly means Punjab’s voice will be weakened, not strengthened,” he said.
Bajwa emphasized that this shift reflects a deeper structural imbalance where states with controlled population growth are effectively disadvantaged, while those with higher population growth gain a larger share of representation. “Punjab is being penalised for its progress and responsible demographic management,” he remarked.
Bajwa cautioned that such a process, if carried out without broad political consensus, could deepen regional disparities and create a sense of alienation among states that already feel sidelined. He stressed that India’s strength lies in its diversity and any policy that appears to favour certain regions over others will weaken national unity.
The Leader of Opposition also questioned the silence of the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab, asking why it has not taken a clear and assertive stand on an issue that directly affects the state’s political future. He urged the Chief Minister to immediately convene a special session of the Vidhan Sabha to deliberate on the matter and pass a resolution defending Punjab’s rights.
Taking a sharp dig at both the Centre and the state government, Bajwa said that while one is pushing policies that may harm federal principles, the other is failing to protect the interests of Punjabis. “Punjab cannot afford passive leadership when its representation and voice at the national level are at stake,” he remarked.
Bajwa further underlined that progressive legislations, including those aimed at enhancing women’s participation in politics, must not be used as instruments to push unrelated structural changes. “Women’s empowerment is a right that must be implemented sincerely, not reduced to symbolism or used as a cover for other agendas,” he added.
Bajwa announced that the Congress will actively engage with people across the state to build awareness and mobilise public opinion, ensuring that Punjab’s rightful voice remains strong and is not diluted through systemic changes.
