Mahabalipuram, Aug. 20 -- Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday urged the Southern Zonal Council to adopt a resolution calling upon the Union government to honour the 1971 census as the basis for delimitation, retain the Lok Sabha's existing strength of 543 seats for the next 25 years, and accommodate women's reservation within these existing seats.

Addressing the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council here, Shivakumar said the South's success in controlling its population must not become a reason for reducing its political voice.

"We welcome the assurance that no southern state will lose seats. But representation is not only about numbers. It is about weight, and about voice," he said.

Shivakumar said the southern sta...