Congress Alleges Government Seeking Majority Support To Pass Delimitation Bill
Congress questions government’s push for majority support on delimitation.
The Congress on Monday questioned the delay in proroguing Parliament’s Monsoon Session, alleging that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is still seeking the two-thirds majority required to pass the proposed delimitation Bills. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh described the session as being kept “on ventilator” and questioned why it had not been formally prorogued despite Parliament being adjourned sine die on August 13.
Ramesh noted that 25 days had passed since both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die. He pointed out that Parliament is normally prorogued within a few days of such an adjournment, while recalling the Monsoon Session of 2015, when the government kept Parliament in session for 28 days after it was adjourned amid disruptions over the Lalit Modi controversy.
Drawing a comparison with 2015, Ramesh alleged that the government is keeping the 2026 Monsoon Session alive in the hope of securing the numbers needed to pass the delimitation legislation. He accused Shah of continuing to seek what he termed a “super-tainted” two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha and questioned how long the government would continue pursuing the legislation through its current political approach.
Also Read: Government Revises Sugar Stock Limit To 2,000 Quintals Ahead Of Festive Season
The Congress leader also referred to the earlier setback faced by the Modi government during the Budget Session. A Constitution Amendment Bill linked to delimitation and the implementation of women's reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was defeated in the Lower House on April 17, after failing to secure the required two-thirds majority.
According to the figures cited by Ramesh, 528 Lok Sabha MPs participated in the vote on the Constitution Amendment Bill, with 298 supporting it and 230 opposing it. The legislation required 352 votes, leaving the government short of the two-thirds threshold needed for passage.
The Congress has now linked the continued delay in proroguing the Monsoon Session to the government's efforts to secure the required numbers for the delimitation Bills. Ramesh questioned whether the government would eventually accept that it lacks the necessary majority and called for a more meaningful engagement with the Opposition on the proposed legislation.
Also Read: BJP Launches 'Ballari Chalo' March; Yediyurappa Targets Karnataka Government
