New Delhi: The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Friday put delimitation at the centre of the political debate ahead of the Parliament session, questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the timing, intent and absence of porposal on the constitutional changes linked to women’s reservation and an increase in Lok Sabha seats.
Meeting in the national capital under party president Mallikarjun Kharge, the CWC unanimously said the issue is not women’s reservation but delimitation and its long-term impact on representation of states.
It noted that the government has not shared any draft or formal proposal, even as it plans to bring legislation in Parliament from April 16 to 18 during ongoing Assembly elections.
The CWC decided that Kharge will convene a meeting of INDIA bloc leaders likely on April 15 to work out a joint strategy.
It also repeated the demand that the Centre call an all-party meeting after April 29, when polling in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu ends, so that the proposed changes can be discussed before being taken up in Parliament.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party has not received any official communication on the proposed amendments. He said Kharge has written three letters to the Parliamentary Affairs Minister since March 16 seeking an all-party meeting after the elections, but there has been no response.
Ramesh said there is no clarity on which Articles of the Constitution are proposed to be amended, what structure will be used to increase seats, or how delimitation will be carried out. He said Parliament is being asked to consider sweeping changes without basic information.
The government is learnt to be considering increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to 816 seats, with 273 seats reserved for women. The Congress said this is directly linked to delimitation and will change the distribution of seats among states.
Ramesh said an increase based on population will benefit more populous states. He cited that the current difference in Lok Sabha seats between Uttar Pradesh and Kerala, around 60, could rise to about 90. The gap between Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, currently around 41, could increase further.
The Congress said such changes will widen existing gaps and affect the balance of representation among states. It said this is why delimitation requires detailed discussion and agreement across parties.
The party maintained that it supports women’s reservation but has objected to the process being followed. It pointed out that Article 334A, introduced in 2023, links the implementation of reservation to a Census followed by delimitation.
Ramesh said delimitation has always followed a Census and asked whether the government plans to change this sequence. He said there is no information yet on whether a fresh Census will be conducted or what data will be used.
Kharge said calling a Parliament session during elections raises procedural issues and that the government has not taken Opposition parties into confidence on the proposed amendments.
The CWC meeting was attended by senior leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with chief ministers and other members.
The Congress said it will coordinate with Opposition parties to present a common position in Parliament. It indicated that delimitation and the lack of clarity around it will be a key issue during the session.
