New Delhi: On Thursday, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the government's intention to reintroduce a Constitution amendment bill related to delimitation.
He urged the Prime Minister to organize an all-party meeting to deliberate on the updated proposals.
In his correspondence with the Prime Minister, Kharge noted that he had previously contacted Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju in March and April, advocating for a meeting to discuss the government's plans concerning delimitation.
Regrettably, these requests went unanswered. He pointed out that the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, did not achieve the necessary majority in the Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026.
Kharge expressed concern over media reports suggesting that the Union Government is preparing to present a revised version of the (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. He reiterated his request for an all-party meeting to review the government's updated proposals on delimitation and to allow sufficient time for thorough examination before their introduction in Parliament.
This letter from the Congress chief follows revelations that the government is exploring various options to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats by 50% across all states, aiming to address the apprehensions of southern states while advancing a new draft of the women's reservation law.
The draft is being developed with the southern states' concerns in mind, particularly regarding how a population-based delimitation could diminish their political influence in the Lok Sabha.
The initial Bill failed to pass in the Lok Sabha on April 17, as the government could not secure the two-thirds majority necessary for approval.
The Modi administration has expressed its desire to pass the Bill to facilitate the implementation of the women's reservation law.
Currently, the ruling NDA holds approximately 300 seats in the Lok Sabha, with three vacancies. To reach the two-thirds threshold, they require 360 votes.
Under existing legislation, the women's reservation cannot be enforced until 2034, as it is contingent upon the completion of the delimitation process following the 2027 Census.
To enable its implementation for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, or women's reservation law, are essential.
The government's strategy involves increasing Lok Sabha seats to a maximum of 850 from the current 543 to facilitate the women's quota law before the 2029 parliamentary elections, following a delimitation exercise based on the latest census data.
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