Centre Plans Three-Day Parliament Session For Delimitation Drive: Sources

The Centre has proposed convening a special three-day session of Parliament from August 16 to 18 to take up the Delimitation and Women's Reservation Amendment Bill, according to sources. The proposal has been conveyed to opposition parties, including the Congress, as the government seeks to build consensus and secure the numbers required to pass the Constitution Amendment Bill after its earlier defeat during the Budget Session.

Sources said the government informed the Congress about its intention to hold the special session and requested the party's participation. The Congress has reportedly told the Centre that it will communicate its decision after consulting its senior leadership and other opposition parties. The outreach is being viewed as an effort to reduce political differences ahead of the proposed session and facilitate discussions on the contentious legislation.

The proposed Bill failed to clear the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session in April after the government fell short of the mandatory two-thirds majority required for a Constitutional amendment. With 528 members present during the voting, the government secured 298 votes, while 230 members opposed the Bill, leaving it 54 votes short of the required majority. Sources indicated that the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) now believes it has improved its numbers following defections from the Trinamool Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, while also moving closer to a two-thirds majority in the Rajya Sabha.

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The development comes amid repeated disruptions during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. Opposition parties have stalled proceedings over issues including the alleged police action against CJP protesters, the Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation controversy and demands for the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the House. As a result, the Lok Sabha has been unable to complete Question Hour since the session began, with several Bills being passed amid continuous protests.

According to sources, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju recently met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as part of what was described as a confidence-building exercise. Rijiju later met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and is also expected to reach out to other opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, in an effort to break the political deadlock. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has expressed concern over repeated disruptions, urging members to maintain the dignity of the House and allow parliamentary business, including Question Hour, to proceed smoothly.

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