Kashmir Impulse Desk

New Delhi, April 15 

The government and opposition parties are set for a sharp confrontation in parliament this week over a proposed constitutional amendment linking the implementation of women’s reservation to a contentious delimitation exercise.

The three-day special sitting of the Parliament of India beginning Thursday will take up the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, which the government has pitched as a key reform to operationalise the women’s quota law ahead of the 2029 general election.

However, opposition parties have said they will oppose provisions related to delimitation, arguing they could alter the political balance between states.

At a meeting hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday, several opposition leaders agreed to vote against the delimitation clauses while backing reservation for women in principle.

“We support women’s reservation, but oppose the politically motivated manner in which this bill is being brought,” Kharge told reporters after the meeting.

Among those present were Rahul Gandhi and leaders from multiple regional parties, reflecting a broader attempt to forge a united front.

Gandhi described the proposed changes as an “attempted power grab” through delimitation and gerrymandering, adding that his party would resist any move that disadvantages southern and smaller states.

The government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, plans to introduce the amendment alongside legislation on delimitation and enabling measures for union territories including Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry.

Officials say the proposals aim to expand the strength of the Lok Sabha to as many as 850 seats from the current 543 to facilitate 33% reservation for women following a fresh delimitation exercise based on the latest census.

The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with 292 members in the Lok Sabha, is seeking to rally support for the bill, which requires a two-thirds majority of members present and voting to pass.

Opposition parties, which together account for around 233 MPs, have raised concerns that population-based delimitation could reduce the representation of southern states that have achieved lower population growth.

Chief ministers including M K Stalin and A Revanth Reddy have voiced strong objections, warning of political and federal imbalances.

Reddy has written to PM Modi seeking an all-party meeting on the issue, while also reaching out to other southern leaders to coordinate a response.

The government has defended the move as a “historic step” to implement the women’s reservation law, also known as the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, arguing that greater participation of women will strengthen India’s democracy.

With both sides hardening positions, the debate is expected to dominate proceedings during the special session, setting the stage for a closely watched legislative battle.