Kharge urges PM to share delimitation plan, seeks 25-year freeze on Lok Sabha strength

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday, August 27, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to share the government's proposed delimitation plan with all political parties and state governments, while calling for the Lok Sabha's existing strength of 543 seats to be frozen for another 25 years.

In a letter to Modi, Kharge also sought implementation of one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha from the 2029 general elections and called for an all-party meeting to discuss the delimitation proposals.

Kharge said he had made a similar request in a letter to the prime minister on July 16, seeking adequate time for political parties and state governments to examine the proposals before they are brought before Parliament.

He reiterated the demand after Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister's reported comments that a special session of Parliament could be convened to take up the issue.

"This perhaps explains the continued delay in the prorogation of the Monsoon session," Kharge said.

The Congress chief outlined three demands: maintaining the existing strength of the Lok Sabha at 543 for another 25 years, retaining the existing state-wise allocation of Lok Sabha seats for the same period, and introducing 33 per cent reservation for women from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

"Before you go ahead as indicated by the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, I wish to reiterate my earlier request to you to -- convene an all-party meeting to discuss whatever delimitation proposals you have in mind; give all political parties and state governments adequate time to study such proposals," Kharge said.

He described delimitation as an issue of "enormous significance" for the country and cautioned the government against attempting to "bulldoze" the proposal, referring to developments in April.

The Congress has previously demanded that the existing Lok Sabha strength and state-wise representation be protected while ensuring women's reservation.

Earlier this month, the Congress Working Committee reiterated its support for both demands. The opposition party had also criticised Modi's appeal to parties to back legislation linked to delimitation and women's reservation, alleging that the government's focus was on "Modi preservation, not women's reservation".

The government had faced a setback during the Budget session on April 17 when a Constitution amendment bill linked to delimitation and the implementation of women's reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was defeated.

Of the 528 MPs who voted, 298 supported the bill while 230 opposed it. The legislation required a two-thirds majority of 352 votes to pass.

(With inputs from PTI)