Hyderabad Chief Minister Demands Pro Rata Increase in Lok Sabha Seats for Southern States
In a forceful political address, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has called for a sustained and organized pushback against the central government's proposed delimitation exercise. Speaking at the 135th birth anniversary celebrations of Dr B R Ambedkar at Lower Tank Bund on Tuesday, Reddy demanded that any future redrawing of parliamentary constituencies must guarantee a proportional increase in Lok Sabha seats for southern states.
Allegations of Representation Dilution and Injustice
The Chief Minister leveled serious allegations against the BJP-led Union government, accusing it of attempting to systematically dilute the South's representation in Parliament. He claimed this was being done under the pretext of increasing overall parliamentary seats by 50 percent. Reddy warned that this proposed move could result in grave injustice to women and to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities across the southern region.
"Union ministers are fully aware of what I describe as a deliberate attempt to curtail the South's parliamentary voice," stated Reddy, emphasizing that this issue requires immediate political attention and resistance.
Contrasting Congress and Previous BRS Governance
Stating that the Congress government gives top priority to the empowerment of the SC community, Reddy launched a sharp critique against the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) administration. He alleged that during its ten-year rule, the BRS government never properly honored Dr Ambedkar's legacy by garlanding his statue or paying homage in meaningful ways.
The Chief Minister specifically criticized former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) for his consistent absence from assembly sessions. "KCR insulted the Dalit assembly speaker by deliberately staying away from legislative proceedings," Reddy asserted, highlighting what he described as systemic disrespect toward marginalized communities.
Empowerment Rhetoric and Political Appeals
Reddy posed a rhetorical question that underscored his government's commitment to social justice: "Are not the sons and daughters of the Dalit community entitled to serve as finance and health ministers?" He celebrated what he called a transformative shift in Telangana's political culture, where those who once insulted Dalits are now compelled to request a Dalit individual for a microphone to speak in the assembly.
The Chief Minister made a direct appeal to citizens, urging them to "bury BRS for its betrayal politics" and support continued Congress governance focused on inclusive development.
Highlighting Congress Government Achievements
Revanth Reddy detailed several welfare initiatives implemented since the Congress came to power. These include increased diet charges for students in government hostels, the establishment of Young India Integrated Schools aimed at eliminating caste-based educational disparities, and the introduction of Telangana Public Schools focused on providing quality education to all.
In just two years, the government has allocated 4.5 lakh Indiramma houses, with the majority of beneficiaries being Dalits and tribals. Additionally, approximately 87 percent of newly created government jobs have been provided to SC, ST, Backward Class (BC), and minority communities, according to the Chief Minister's statements.
The address served as both a political manifesto and a warning about potential parliamentary changes, positioning the Congress government as the defender of southern interests and social justice against what Reddy portrayed as central overreach and historical neglect by previous state administrations.
