NEW DELHI: Delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies on the basis of population will begin in 2026 or 27. Once this is completed, the number of Lok Sabha seats may go up to 848 from the current 543. Seats will be increased in North Indian states. It will go up from 80 to 143 in Uttar Pradesh. However, 24 seats will be reduced in South Indian states. There may be no change in the current 20 seats in Kerala.
Due to the better implementation of family planning, the population has decreased in South India and this is also the reason for the decrease in seats. States like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which are lagging behind in family planning, have seen population growth. Seats will also be increased proportionately in the delimitation of constituencies. This will benefit parties including BJP, which has influence in the Hindi belt.
The Hindi belt comprising Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand currently has 42 percent representation in the Assembly. This will increase to 48 percent with delimitation. At the same time, the representation of South Indian states which is currently 24 percent may decrease to 20 percent. The total representation of Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Arunachal, Nagaland and Sikkim states may decrease by up to two percent.
DMK has started protesting in Tamil Nadu following reports that the 2026 delimitation will lead to a reduction of seats.
Possible change in Lok Sabha seats
(current number in brackets)
Uttar Pradesh 143 (80), Bihar 79 (40), Maharashtra 76 (48), West Bengal 60 (42), Gujarat 43 (26), Madhya Pradesh 52 (29), Delhi 12 (7), Haryana 18 (10), Punjab 18 ( 13), Odisha 28(21), Assam 21(14)
888 seats in the new building