Sharp increase in number of Assembly segments in GHMC?

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

With the country gearing up for simultaneous elections in 2029, the Centre has made it clear that it will increase the number of Assembly constituencies by 50 per cent across all states, along with a similar hike in Lok Sabha seats. This announcement has triggered intense speculation and calculations in Telangana over how the additional Assembly seats will be distributed. Political leaders and aspiring candidates have already begun poring over 2011 Census population data, as the delimitation exercise is expected to be carried out strictly on the basis of the 2011 census figures.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has already confirmed that the redistribution of constituencies will be based on the 2011 Census. In this backdrop, leaders in Telangana are busy analyzing district-wise population statistics to assess which areas are likely to gain new seats and how many. The state presently has 119 Assembly constituencies. With a 50 percent increase, the number is expected to rise to around 179 seats.

Officials and leaders estimate that after delimitation, each Assembly constituency will represent an average population of approximately 2 lakh people. If the total population of 3.50 crore is divided by 179 constituencies, the average comes to roughly 1.95 lakh per seat. However, some constituencies may have slightly more than 2 lakh people while others may have fewer. Leaders anticipate significant changes in the existing boundaries of almost all current constituencies.

The Hyderabad Metropolitan area is expected to see the largest increase in Assembly seats. According to 2011 Census estimates, more than one crore people fall under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits, including parts of Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri and Sangareddy districts. Currently, around 27 Assembly seats exist within GHMC limits. With the proposed delimitation, this number could rise to as many as 50 constituencies.

Leaders calculate that one crore population at an average of 2 lakh per seat would justify nearly 50 seats. In Medchal-Malkajgiri district, which had a population of about 24.5 lakh in 2011, a substantial increase in seats is also anticipated. Discussions are already underway about splitting high-population segments such as Serilingampally, Uppal and Malkajgiri into two constituencies each.

In the rest of the state, almost every district is expected to gain at least one or two additional Assembly constituencies based on population. For instance, Adilabad district had a population exceeding 7 lakh in 2011 but currently has only two Assembly seats — Adilabad and Boath — with a portion falling under Khanapur (Nirmal district). Leaders suggest there is a strong possibility of a new constituency being carved out, possibly centered around Utnoor or Gudihathnur.

Districts such as Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Warangal, Hanamkonda, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam, Mahabubnagar, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Nalgonda and Medak are also likely to see an increase of one or two seats each. Urban areas with municipal corporations like Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Ramagundam, and Warangal are expected to gain additional representation based on population density.

Overall, if delimitation is carried out strictly on 2011 population figures, nearly every district in Telangana is likely to see an average increase of at least one Assembly seat, with some districts gaining two or more. However, once the central law is enacted, the principle that each constituency should ideally fall entirely within one district may lead to some adjustments in the final configuration.