“Effective population control leads to increased public health spending, but while devolving funds, no special consideration is given to states that bear this financial burden,” Pinarayi argued.

“If our parliamentary representation is further reduced while our share of the nation’s wealth continues to decline, we will face an unprecedented situation where both our rightful share of funds and our political voice to demand them diminish simultaneously,” he said.

Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Odisha, West Bengal, and Punjab have now united in protest. The Kerala CPM stated that this meeting, called by M.K. Stalin, marks the beginning of a coordinated resistance.

Pinarayi warned that the proposed delimitation could lead to a centralisation of power that undermines India’s federal character. “The current effort at delimitation disrupts the balance between the Union and the States, disproportionately empowering those that failed to implement national policies like population control. States that prioritised education, healthcare, and gender equity will be penalised for their progressive choices, discouraging future human development initiatives,” he said.

He cited constitutional and historical precedents supporting federalism. “Dr. B.R. Ambedkar warned against the ‘tyranny of the majority’, and the Sarkaria Commission reaffirmed that federalism is not a mere administrative arrangement but a fundamental feature of the Constitution. Ignoring these principles revives colonial-era centralisation, which history has shown to be detrimental to India’s unity,” he said.