Opposition Leaders Challenge Delimitation Bill in Lok Sabha
In a recent session, Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress president, led the opposition against the Constitution (131st Amendment) and delimitation bills in the Lok Sabha. He emphasized the need to defeat these proposed laws, which he believes threaten representation for southern states. Opposition leaders, including CPI's P. Sandoz and JDU's Sanjay Kumar Jha, raised concerns about the merging of key legislative issues, questioning the government's motives. The Congress party has mobilized its MPs to support their stance in the upcoming special session. This ongoing debate highlights significant tensions in Indian politics regarding representation and democratic processes.
Apr 17, 2026, 14:53 IST
Opposition's Stand Against Proposed Legislation
On Friday, Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha and president of the Congress party, stated that members of the INDIA bloc are opposing the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill and the delimitation bill in the Lok Sabha, with the intention of defeating these proposed laws. He emphasized that their members are actively fighting against these measures and are determined to thwart them in the Lok Sabha.
Currently, the Lok Sabha is engaged in discussions regarding the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Union Territory Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026—which extends provisions to Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir—and the delimitation bill, which aims to increase the number of Lok Sabha constituencies to 850.
Opposition parties have criticized the delimitation process, arguing that basing it on the 2011 census will reduce representation for southern states in the Lok Sabha. Congress MP K. Suresh labeled the delimitation bill as dangerous, claiming it would undermine opposition parties. He clarified that their opposition is not against the women's reservation bill but specifically against the delimitation bill, which he believes poses a significant threat to the opposition's existence in the country.
CPI MP P. Sandoz questioned the rationale behind combining the delimitation, census, and women's representation bills, demanding clarification from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sandoz remarked to a news outlet that the women's reservation bill was unanimously passed by the Indian Parliament, and they had cooperated with the government. Unfortunately, he accused the government of attempting to weaken the federal structure by misusing the women's reservation bill. He raised concerns about why these issues were merged and insisted that the Prime Minister should provide answers.
JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha challenged the INDIA bloc's opposition to the bills, noting that the Nari Shakti Vandan Act 2023 was passed unanimously. He pointed out that Prime Minister Modi had clearly stated that there would be no changes to the delimitation process. He questioned the basis for the protests and asked what threat it posed to democracy, suggesting that it reflects a lack of trust in the women of the country. The Congress party has issued a three-line whip instructing its MPs to attend the special session from April 16 to 18 to support the party's stance.