By Mathiupuang Gonmei
This article urges the Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers, Members of Parliament and Members of the Legislative Assemblies of the eight Northeastern States to unite and safeguard the region’s long-term political interests in the forthcoming delimitation exercise. It argues that parliamentary representation should not be based solely on population, but should also consider the Northeast’s strategic international borders, difficult terrain, tribal and indigenous communities, cultural diversities and ecological sensitivity. The article calls on each State to convene a Special Session of its Legislative Assembly and adopt a resolution seeking constitutional safeguards, including enhanced representation in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and protection against further political marginalization of smaller States. It also highlights the urgency of collective action, warning that evolving political consensus could accelerate the delimitation process. The article emphasizes that a stronger parliamentary voice for Northeast India is essential to strengthening India’s unity, federalism, national security and inclusive democracy.
The Northeast is far more than a region defined by population. It is India’s strategic frontier, sharing international borders with several neighbouring countries. It is home to hundreds of indigenous tribes, rich linguistic and cultural diversities, fragile ecological systems and constitutional protections that reflect its unique place within the Indian Union. These realities require that the region’s representation in Parliament be viewed through the broader lens of national integration, federal balance and strategic importance and not just on population alone. While population is an important democratic principle, it should not be the sole criterion for determining parliamentary representation in a country as diverse and federal as India. Geography, border security, difficult terrain, tribal and indigenous representation, administrative challenges, cultural diversity, ecological sensitivity and the need to preserve the voice of smaller States are equally important constitutional considerations.
It is therefore, earnestly requested to every Chief Minister of the eight Northeastern States to take the initiatives to convene a Special Session of the State Legislative Assembly to deliberate on the implications of the forthcoming delimitation exercise and to unanimously adopt a Resolution urging the Government of India to ensure that the interests of Northeast India are adequately protected. It is suggested that the Resolution adopted by each Legislative Assembly may include the following key demands:
- Every Northeastern State should be guaranteed a minimum of five to seven Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, irrespective of population size, in recognition of the region’s strategic importance, geographical realities, constitutional status and vital contributions to the unity and security of India.
- Every Northeastern State should be guaranteed a minimum of two to three Members in the Rajya Sabha, thereby strengthening the federal character of the Constitution and ensuring a more equitable voice for the smaller States in the Council of States.
- The forthcoming delimitation exercise should not be based solely on population.It should also take into consideration strategic international borders, national security, geographical terrain, tribal and indigenous representation, ethnic and cultural diversities, administrative convenience, developmental disparities, ecological sensitivity, constitutional principles of cooperative federalism and balanced regional representation.
- Before any delimitation legislation or policy is finalized, the Government of India should convene a High-Level Consultative Conferenceof all Chief Ministers of the Northeastern States, Members of Parliament from the region, constitutional experts, and representatives of recognized civil society organizations to evolve a broad national consensus on safeguarding the political interests of the Northeast.
- The Government of India should consider appropriate constitutional or statutory safeguardsto ensure that strategically important border States and smaller States are not politically further marginalized merely because of their comparatively smaller populations.
Need for Urgent Actions before it is too Late
There is another important reason why the Northeastern States should act with urgency and foresight. During the previous Budget Session of Parliament, the proposed constitutional amendment bill relating to delimitation did not secure the required support, largely because several southern States and certain political parties expressed concern that a population-based delimitation could adversely affect their relative representation in the Lok Sabha. However, there is now a growing apprehension that if the Government of India proceeds with an enlarged Lok Sabha and assures every State of a substantial increase in representation, reportedly in the order of around fifty per cent, the States and political parties that had earlier opposed the proposal may reconsider their position and extend their support. If such a broad political consensus emerges, the delimitation process could move forward rapidly. In that event, the Northeastern States must ensure that their own constitutional concerns are not overlooked.
The Northeast presently has only 25 Members in the Lok Sabha. Consequently, even if every State were to receive an increase of around fifty per cent in representation, the eight Northeastern States together would gain only about twelve to thirteen additional Members. Such an increase, while welcome, would still leave the region with a comparatively modest voice in the House of the People when measured against the overall expansion of the Lok Sabha and the much larger numerical gains likely to accrue to more populous States. In this proposed formula, Uttar Pradesh alone would have 120 Members whereas the entire Northeast states would have a meager 37/38 Members only i.e. not even one-third of UP’s strength. Unless the unique strategic importance, extensive international borders, geographical realities, tribal diversity and federal significance of the Northeast are specifically recognized in the delimitation framework, the region’s relative political influence at the national level may continue to diminish. This is precisely why the elected representatives of all eight Northeastern States must come together now and adopt a common constitutional position before the delimitation process reaches its final stage.
It is imperative to note that Northeast has always stood firmly for the unity, sovereignty and integrity of India. Therefore, this demand for enhanced representation in Parliament of India does not seek special privilege or favour, nor does it seek to diminish the democratic rights of any other region. It seeks only a fair and balanced constitutional framework that recognizes the unique strategic, geographical, cultural and constitutional importance of Northeast India and ensures that its people continue to have an effective and meaningful voice in the Parliament of India.
History remembers leaders who possess the vision to act before challenges become irreversible. The forthcoming delimitation presents such a historic moment. Therefore, it is earnestly appeal to all Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers, Members of Parliament and Members of the Legislative Assemblies of the Northeastern States to rise above political considerations and speak with one united voice and work collectively to protect the constitutional and democratic interests of the region for present and future generations in the forthcoming delimitation exercise. This is neither a party issue nor the concern of any single State. It is a matter that will determine the political voice and constitutional standing of the entire Northeastern region for generations to come. A stronger voice for Northeast India in Parliament will strengthen not only the Northeast but also the unity, federal balance, security and democratic foundations of the Republic of India.
(The writer is a Social Worker & Former AEO, Lok Sabha Secretariat, Parliament of India. He can be reached at mathiupuang@gmail.com)
