Kharge Seeks PM Modi's Intervention For All-Party Meeting On Delimitation Bill
Kharge seeks wider discussion on revised delimitation proposal.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an all-party meeting to discuss the government's revised delimitation-related Bills before they are introduced in Parliament during the upcoming Monsoon Session. Kharge said broader consultations with political parties were necessary to examine the proposals in detail and ensure that concerns from different stakeholders are considered before legislative action.
In his letter, Kharge recalled that the Congress had earlier requested discussions on the government's delimitation proposals. He said that during March and April 2026, he had written to the Parliamentary Affairs Minister seeking an all-party meeting on the issue, but those requests were not accepted. He also referred to the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on April 17.
Kharge said media reports suggested that the Centre was planning to bring back a revised version of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, along with related legislation during the upcoming parliamentary session. He urged the Prime Minister to hold consultations with political parties before introducing the Bills, giving them sufficient time to study the proposed changes and share their views.
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The Congress chief's demand comes in the backdrop of a wider political debate over the proposed delimitation exercise and changes to parliamentary representation. The earlier package of Bills, including the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, did not pass the Lok Sabha after failing to receive the required support.
The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to advance the implementation of women's reservation in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. It also proposes a significant expansion of the Lok Sabha's strength and sets the framework for the next nationwide delimitation exercise, which would involve redistribution of parliamentary seats among states for the first time since 1976.
According to the proposal, the strength of the Lok Sabha would rise from 550 seats to 850 seats, making it one of the most significant electoral reforms under discussion in recent years. The Congress has argued that such a major change requires extensive political consultation, while the government is expected to decide its next steps on the revised Bills ahead of the Monsoon Session.
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