The issue of increasing number of assembly seats in the two Telugu States came up in the Parliament in the current session. The Central government has made it clear that no hike will be possible in any part of the country till 2026 Census is completed and its details are available.
It is also clarified that any future increase in Assembly seats will be taken up based on 2026 Census as per the Article 170 (3) of the Constitution. This is stated in the written reply of Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram on the floor of the Rajya Sabha to a question raised by TDP MP Sujana Chowdary. Article 170 (3) clearly states the total number of seats in Legilsative Assembly of each State shall be read justed by such authority as Parliament may determine by making a law.
It was TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao who used to talk frequently about the hiking of Assembly seats in Telugu States. There is also a mention of the increase in seats of Assemblies of Telangana and AP in the AP Reorganisation Act 2014 but no such effort has been taken by the Central government so far. It was said the Assembly seats will be increased from 175 to 225 in AP and from 119 to 153 in Telangana. Recent Telangana elections were held for only 119 Assembly segments without any hike. Now, the TDP is raising the subject as part of its pressure tactics to embarrass the Modi government on the promises made in the bifurcation act
