Delimitation Debate | 'India should now think of extreme decentralisation': Nilakantan R.S.

The topic of delimitation has turned into a South vs North debate, with most of the States in south India expected to lose seats in a demography-based delimitation exercise. The southern States strongly oppose any redrawing of Lok Sabha constituency boundaries solely on the basis of current population figures as it would not only reduce their political representation at the national level but also amount to penalising them for adhering to the national policy of population control. Nilakantan R.S., data scientist and author of the bestselling book South vs North: India’s Great Divide, suggests that extreme decentralisation could be a way out. In an exclusive interview with Frontline, Nilakantan says the answer lies in making the prize, which is the government in Delhi, less attractive. He says that altering the structure of governance in the country so that the States get more powers could be a way out.