The proposed delimitation exercise, an issue which has become another flashpoint between the Centre and Opposition, will not fix seat count and is rather concentrated on the reorganisation of constituencies, sources told Times Now. As per reports, the delimitation panel is not to fix seat count and won’t decide on the number of constituencies and neither their proportion. Sources further said that the proportion of the seats would be the same as the current Lok Sabha. Also, it won’t have any link to the 2011 census, and the strength of seats across all states is expected to increase by 50 per cent.
Parliament Set For Mega Showdown on Delimitation
A high-stakes showdown looms over the special session set to be held in Parliament from April 16 to 18 as the Centre is set to move the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which will increase Lok Sabha Seats to 850 and allow delimitation based on the pre-2026 Census.
The core issue is delimitation, which the opposition argues will reduce representation for southern states while favouring northern ones.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposes the expansion of the Lok Sabha and amends Articles 81 and 82. The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, called the delimitation process a “dangerous plan” by the ruling party.”One of the BJP’s dangerous plans is to “gerrymander’ all Lok Sabha seats to its advantage for the 2029 elections. The proposed Bills remove all Constitutional safeguards on delimitation, giving full power to the Delimitation Commission, which the government itself will appoint and direct. We have seen how the BJP does this – it hijacked delimitation in Assam and Jammu and Kashmir, where it split up anti-BJP regions and communities for electoral advantage,” he said.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin Takes on Centre
As Opposition expressed its concerns, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin called for a statewide display of black flags, urging people to unite in what he described as a collective struggle for the rights of Tamil Nadu against the proposed delimitation bill.
In a post on X, Stalin said, “Let the black flag fly tomorrow in the homes, streets, and shops of Tamil Nadu! Let it stand as our symbols of resistance at the doorsteps! This is not the struggle of an individual movement; it is the struggle of Tamil Nadu!”He called everyone to come out above party differences to raise a strong and united voice against delimitation.”
Responding to opposition parties’ concerns, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Wednesday clarified that the Delimitation Commission will consult with each political party.
Speaking to ANI in Purba Bardhaman, Sitharaman launched a sharp attack against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her ‘delimitation will divide’ remarks.
Sitharaman said, “Is she suggesting that women will have to wait any longer, and she would not cooperate. Let her say that openly. I challenge her. Is she trying to stop reservations for women and putting fear in the minds of people in Bengal?”
When asked about the Centre’s proposal to increase the seats in the Lok Sabha to 850, she clarified that it was the maximum limit.
Rahul Gandhi also said earlier today that Delimitation should be based on a transparent policy framework, developed after wide consultations with a consensus.
“Indians of all communities and States should feel confident that they will be represented and their voices will be heard. This is the only way forward to protect and strengthen our democracy,” Gandhi said.
The opposition parties have urged the Centre not to link the Delimitation and implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act.
INDIA Block Fumes Over Centre’s Move
Earlier today, the India bloc leaders decided to oppose the delimitation bill pushed with an amendment to Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, to provide 33 per cent reservation for women legislators in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
The opposition clarified that it is not against the women’s reservation and urged them to implement Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, but objected to the delimitation process, which they believe weakens the representation of the southern and north-eastern states in the Lok Sabha.
The decision was made in a meeting at the residence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi. Along with Congress President, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, RJD Working President Tejashwi Yadav, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, and other prominent INDIA bloc leaders attended the meeting.
After the meeting, Mallikarjun Kharge announced the INDIA bloc’s decision, accusing the government of making a “politically motivated” move to suppress the opposition parties.
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, which provides for 33 per cent reservation for women legislators, is linked to the delimitation process in the Lok Sabha. The government is planning to implement the women’s reservation ahead of the 2029 General Elections by bringing in an amendment to the 2023 Act and a constitutional amendment to delink the delimitation process from the 2027 census.
According to sources, the government has proposed to increase the number of seats in the House to 850, with 815 seats proposed for the States and the remaining 35 for the Union Territories. The Lok Sabha has 543 seats at present.
With inputs from ANI
