The notion of democracy can be regarded as an art, as well as a craft. It is an art when it captures the subjective and abstract notion of representation, citizenship, empowerment, and emancipation of the masses. Its craft dimension of techniques and mechanics is more implicit in the specifics of electoral processes, and the models and techniques employed often dictate the nature of democracy that is eventually formulated.

The present study focuses on such ‘technical’ requirements of delimitation of constituencies, and traces the impact that its abbrestions may have on the concept of equal representation of votes. It focuses on contextualising the long freeze on delimitation of state constituencies in India imposed by the 42nd Amendment, and then again by the 91st Amendment to the Constitution of India. It strives to capture the narrative of delimitation exercise in India in the context of partisan politics and legal developments in this respect, and debunks the casual justification provided for the freeze since 1971, which extends until 2031 for now. It critically analyses the freeze on delimitation and political and legal responses generated by it, and suggests a comprehensive engagement with the questions the issue generates, to reform the irregularities of representation
that the delimitation freeze has caused and intensified so far.