The government on Thursday reached out to the Opposition seeking support for the reintroduction of the delimitation bill, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju holding a telephonic conversation with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over the issue. The move comes as the Centre attempts to build consensus on the proposed legislation linked to women’s reservation.

Sources said Rijiju focused on reducing differences between the government and Opposition during the discussion, marking his third attempt to engage with Rahul Gandhi on the matter during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The minister reportedly sought Opposition support for the early reintroduction of the bill, arguing that it would help speed up the implementation of women’s reservation.

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks changes related to delimitation and women’s reservation, had earlier failed to clear the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session in April. During Thursday’s conversation, Rijiju reportedly highlighted that delaying the implementation of women’s reservation could create dissatisfaction among women voters.

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Rahul Gandhi, however, did not give a final commitment during the discussion and sought additional time to consult Congress allies and other members of the INDIA bloc. Sources said Gandhi informed Rijiju that the matter would be discussed in detail with alliance partners before the Opposition communicates its position.

The Congress has maintained that its stand on the proposed legislation remains unchanged. Congress MP K.C. Venugopal recently reiterated that the party continues to hold the same position it adopted during the previous Parliament session and dismissed reports suggesting that the Opposition had agreed to support the bill.

Earlier, Congress MP Manish Tewari had criticised the bill, alleging that the proposed delimitation exercise could be used to alter the country’s political and demographic balance under the framework of women’s reservation. The Opposition has maintained that it supports women’s reservation but wants it implemented without linking it to changes in the existing parliamentary seat structure.

The issue has emerged as a major point of discussion ahead of the Monsoon Session, with differences continuing within the Opposition bloc over the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026. The government is now seeking broader political support to move forward with the legislation.

Also Read: Centre May Bring Delimitation Bill In Monsoon Session Amid Representation Questions