Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has criticised the proposed delimitation exercise and warned of regional `political imbalance`.
Raj Thackeray on Friday issued an official statement on Centre`s constitutional amendments related to Women’s Reservation Act, alleging that it could alter India’s political balance and reduce representation of several states.
In a detailed statement, Raj Thackeray said that the Centre is using the Delimitation and Women’s Reservation proposals to consolidate political power. He questioned the timing of the changes and alleged that they were aimed at reshaping the electoral map in favour of ruling interests.
He stated that MNS supports women’s reservation, but opposed what he described as the broader political use of the legislation.
Concerns over delimitation
In the statement, posted on X, Raj Thackeray opposed the idea of redrawing Lok Sabha constituencies based on population was not convencing. He argued that states which have controlled population growth could be penalised, while states with higher population growth may gain more parliamentary representation.
He said this would lead to an “unfair advantage” in the Lok Sabha and distort the federal structure of the country.
The MNS leader warned that states such as Maharashtra, along with southern, eastern, and northeastern regions, could lose representation if delimitation is carried out in the proposed manner.
#लोकसभा_मतदारसंघ_पुनर्रचना #Delimitation#महाराष्ट्र_नवनिर्माण_सेना pic.twitter.com/eU7elz4VSW
— Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) April 17, 2026
He claimed that such a move could increase regional imbalance and weaken the voice of several states in Parliament.
Concerns over federal structure
Raj Thackeray said that India’s federal structure must be respected and accused the Centre of ignoring differences in culture, language, and development across states.
He also raised concerns that economic and tax-related disparities between states could worsen if political representation is reduced for some regions.
The MNS chief highlighted migration trends, claiming that people from northern states are increasingly moving to western and southern states for jobs, which he said could influence local politics and voter dynamics in those regions.
He also warned against what he described as attempts at cultural homogenisation.
Call for balanced delimitation formula
Thackeray suggested that if parliamentary seats are increased, existing state quotas should not be disturbed. He proposed that states should be guaranteed a minimum level of representation, with additional seats distributed fairly based on population.
He warned that any imbalance in representation could lead to long-term instability and public resentment across regions. He also said the issue should not be treated as a mere numbers exercise, as it could affect national unity.
Opposition
Raj Thackeray also criticised the government, alleging that recent political strategies could deepen regional divisions. He urged all states with distinct cultural identities to resist any unfair changes to representation.
Reiterating the party’s position, he said MNS supports women’s reservation but opposes delimitation in its current form. He also warned of strong protests if the proposals are implemented without addressing regional concerns.
