Congress's Sonia Gandhi Says Delimitation Plan is an Assault on Constitution Ahead of Special Session

Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has strongly criticised the Centre over the upcoming special session of Parliament, arguing that the real agenda is not women’s reservation but the issue of delimitation, which she described as “extremely dangerous” for India’s constitutional balance.

In an op-ed published in The Hindu, Gandhi said the government is attempting to “bulldoze” major constitutional changes during a politically sensitive period, as election campaigns in states like Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are expected to be at their peak. She alleged that the timing of the special session, beginning April 16, is aimed at gaining political advantage rather than enabling meaningful parliamentary debate.

Her remarks come after Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to political parties seeking support for amendments linked to the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill, officially known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. The law, passed in 2023, provides for one-third reservation for women in legislatures, but its implementation is tied to the next census and related delimitation exercise.

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Gandhi, however, argued that delimitation—not women’s reservation—is the central issue being pushed. She claimed that the government’s reported plan to redraw constituencies could significantly alter political representation across states, especially affecting states that have controlled population growth through better family planning. According to her, such a move could create imbalances in parliamentary representation and weaken federal fairness.

She also questioned the urgency behind the government’s push, pointing out that Census operations, originally due in 2021, were delayed. She said this delay has already impacted welfare schemes and that the proposed delimitation process should not proceed without proper census data and wider consultation with opposition parties.

Gandhi further accused the government of avoiding an all-party consensus, saying that opposition leaders had repeatedly requested discussions after April 29, once elections in key states are complete. Instead, she said, the centre is pushing ahead with what she called a “top-down” approach without sharing clear details of the proposals.

Responding indirectly to such criticism, the Prime Minister has maintained that the women’s reservation law represents a historic reform and should be implemented in time for the 2029 general elections, arguing that it will strengthen democracy and increase women’s participation in governance.

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