The central government has reportedly given the green Signal for an additional 50 MLAs in Andhra Pradesh. There is movement regarding the delimitation of constituencies. Will the delimitation of constituencies happen by 2026?
BY RAJA PENTAPATI
AP BUREAU CHIEF
NATIONAL NEWSAmaravati, January 3 (Bharat News) AP
In fact, the delimitation of constituencies should have taken place with the state bifurcation in 2014. The current number should have increased. But that did not happen. There are various reasons for this. Mainly, signals were given that the delimitation would only happen after the census and the approval of the Women’s Reservation Bill…
However, with the census and the Women’s Bill expected to be approved, it is becoming clear that the delimitation of constituencies will take place in 2026. If that happens, an additional 50 constituencies will be created in Andhra Pradesh. This will increase the number of assembly seats to 225. If that happens, the opportunities for political aspirants will improve to some extent.
The state was bifurcated in 2014. The new Andhra Pradesh was formed with 175 assembly seats and 25 parliamentary seats. Regarding Telangana, 117 assembly seats and 17 parliamentary seats remained. Due to the state bifurcation under special circumstances, it was clarified in the then bifurcation bill that administrative decentralization was necessary.
It was included in the bill that the number of constituencies should increase with the delimitation of constituencies. Although ten years have passed since the state’s bifurcation, the delimitation of constituencies has not yet taken place, and the number of constituencies has not increased.
However, it appears that an increase in the number of constituencies by 2026 is inevitable. Information suggests that the central government is also prepared for this.
Andhra Pradesh currently has 25 parliamentary constituencies. Each parliamentary constituency comprises seven assembly seats, maintaining the current total of 175 seats. During the delimitation process, there is a proposal to increase the number of assembly seats by two within each Lok Sabha constituency.
The delimitation process is expected to begin in the second half of 2026. The central government aims to complete the delimitation process as quickly as possible and announce the new assembly constituencies.
The census and the Women’s Reservation Bill are also expected to be approved in the coming days. The government plans to complete the census in 2025 and immediately thereafter get the Women’s Reservation Bill approved. The delimitation process will then commence.
Currently, Andhra Pradesh has the TDP, YSRCP, Jana Sena, BJP, Congress, and Left parties. The TDP alliance includes the BJP and Jana Sena. The YSRCP is the main opposition party, although it does not hold the official status of the Leader of the Opposition. The Congress and the Left parties are also present.
However, leaders in all parties are hopeful. Primarily, second-tier leaders in the TDP alliance and the YSRCP are aspiring to be elected to the legislature. If the delimitation results in an increase of 50 assembly seats, there is a possibility that many of these hopefuls across all parties will get a chance.
Bharat News Andhra Pradesh
