The Congress on Monday alleged that the Centre’s proposed delimitation exercise, linked to the implementation of the women’s reservation law, could create divisions between northern and southern states. The party raised concerns over equity and the timing of the move ahead of the special sitting of Parliament.
Addressing a press conference, party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said delimitation should not be treated as a purely arithmetic exercise but must ensure equitable representation. She argued that states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana should not be penalised for successfully controlling population growth and achieving better human development outcomes.
Shrinate expressed concern that the proposed framework could reduce the parliamentary representation of these states if delimitation is conducted without factoring in broader principles of equity. She warned that any attempt to implement such changes without consensus or all-party consultation could trigger political resistance and public concern in the affected regions.
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, in an article, raised serious constitutional concerns over the reported proposal, stating that it could have far-reaching political consequences. She emphasised that any increase in the strength of the Lok Sabha must be politically equitable and not based solely on numerical considerations.
She also questioned the urgency behind convening a special session of Parliament, suggesting that its timing could disadvantage the Opposition during ongoing election campaigns. According to her, the move appeared to have a political objective, especially when several states are in the middle of polling.
Referring to Gandhi’s article, Shrinate said the core issue behind the government’s legislative push was delimitation rather than women’s reservation. She noted that when the women’s reservation law was passed in September 2023, the Congress had supported it, while clearly stating that its implementation should not be tied to delimitation or a caste census.
She further questioned why the government appeared to be revisiting its constitutional framework after nearly 30 months without a clear explanation, and why such amendments were being introduced during an active election period.
Shrinate also raised concerns about the timing of the special sitting of Parliament, scheduled from April 16 to 18, noting that it coincides with election campaigning in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. She pointed out that MPs from poll-bound states have a constitutional responsibility to campaign and asked why the session could not be scheduled after April 29, when polling concludes in these regions.
The Centre has extended the Budget session and convened a three-day special sitting of Parliament from April 16 to 18 to consider amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which provides for one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, with implementation slated for 2029.
The legislative move comes amid an ongoing election cycle. Polling has already been held in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry on April 9. Voting in West Bengal will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
