Bengaluru, 20 Jan

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the country is witnessing a dangerous shift from cooperative federalism to coercive centralism, where decisions are made in Delhi, "imposed on the states and celebrated as reforms".

Speaking at the 'South Indian Socialist Conference' organised by the Centre for Socialist Studies and Samajwadi Sangama in the City on Tuesday, he said the idea of India is not one Centre ruling over many states, but many states strengthening one union.

"Cooperative federalism is not a choice; it is the soul of our Constitution," he said in his address.

When the Union government withholds funds, delays disaster relief, denies representation and imposes uniform policies, it is not merely "violating federalism but betraying the socialist spirit of the Constitution," he said.

He said fiscal federalism has been hollowed out through shrinking tax devolution and the hoarding of resources via cesses and surcharges. "States are reduced to implementers without authority, expected to deliver welfare while being denied funds," he said.

Siddaramaiah said the BJP-led union government has replaced "trust with control and partnership with punishment."

On the proposed delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies, the CM warned that if carried out in the manner proposed by the BJP, the political voice of South India would be weakened. “Our states will gradually become poorer”.

Citing studies, the CM said Uttar Pradesh and Bihar could gain over 20 seats, while Tamil Nadu and Kerala together could lose 16 seats, with Karnataka also facing a serious reduction in political representation.