एक वोट, एक मूल्य ये प्रजातंत्र का मूल सिद्धांत है। इसी बात को ध्यान में रखते हुए, बदलती जनसंख्या के साथ लोकसभा की सीटों का बंटवारा भी बदलने की व्यवस्था हमारे संविधान में की गयी थी। हर दशकीय जनगणना के बाद जनसंख्या के अनुपात में सीटों का बंटवारा होना था। लेकिन, इमरजेंसी के दौरान इस व्यवस्था को पच्चीस सालों के लिए स्थगित कर दिया गया।  २००१ में इस बंटवारे को २०२६ तक टाल दिया गया। अब २०२६ नज़दीक आ रहा है। इसके साथ ही जिन राज्यों में जनसँख्या घटी है, उन राज्यों में लोकसभा के सीटें कम हो जाने का डर एक राजकीय मुद्दा बनकर उभर रहा है। इस ज्वलंत मुद्दे को कैसे समझें? क्या हम किसी समाधान पर पहुँच सकते हैं? चलिए, इसी पर आज की पुलियाबाज़ी करते हैं।  

One vote, one value is the basic principle of democracy. Hence, Article 81 of the Indian Constitution mandated a regular redistribution of Lok Sabha seats with changing population. After every decennial census, seats were to be reallocated amongst states in proportion to the population, so that the weight of every vote remains more or less the same across the country. However, during the Emergency, this exercise was postponed for twenty-five years. In 2001, it was further postponed till 2026. Now, as 2026 is approaching, delimitation has become a political issue especially in the southern states which stand to lose seats owing to their reduced population. What can be the potential solutions to this? How can we reallocate seats so that we respect the ‘One Vote, One Value’ principle, while improving overall governance? 

We discuss:

* One person, one vote

* Historical background

* Concentration of political power

* The extent of malapportionment 

* Alternatives for new apportionment

* Can actual voters be a criteria for seat apportionment?

* Possible solution

* Strengthening the Upper House 

* Vertical Devolution 

Please Note: Puliyabaazi is also available on Youtube in Video format. Please check out Puliyabaazi Hindi Podcast Youtube channel if you have not done so. 

Readings:

India’s Emerging Crisis of Representation by Milan Vaishnav and Jamie Hintson 

The States in Parliament by Lalit Panda and Ritwika Sharma, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy

TSATU: Shruti Rajagopalan Dives Into Delimitation

Related Puliyabaazi:

संसद को सुदृढ़ कैसे करें? Strengthening India’s Parliament Ft. M. R. Madhavan

संसद के अंदर. Understanding the Indian Parliament.

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