Rahul Gandhi Criticizes Proposed Constitutional Amendment on Lok Sabha Seats
In a recent statement, Rahul Gandhi condemned the central government's proposal to increase Lok Sabha seats to 850 and conduct delimitation based on the upcoming census. He argued that this move threatens the representation of OBC, Dalit, and tribal communities, labeling it as an anti-national act by the NDA. Gandhi emphasized the importance of adhering to the caste census data and called for the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Act to ensure women's representation. His remarks highlight the ongoing political tensions surrounding representation and electoral reforms in India.
| Apr 15, 2026, 20:02 IST
Opposition Leader's Concerns Over Representation
In light of the central government's proposal to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 850 and allow delimitation based on the upcoming 2026 census, Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition, expressed strong opposition on Wednesday. He stated that the Congress party will not allow the government to undermine the representation of Other Backward Classes (OBC), Dalits, and tribal communities, labeling the move as anti-national by the NDA.
In a post on X, Gandhi emphasized that while Congress supports women's reservation, any delimitation should strictly adhere to the 2026 census, which is currently underway. He further argued that any legislation should consider caste census data. According to him, the government's proposal is unrelated to women's reservation and is an attempt to seize power through manipulation and delimitation. He asserted that ignoring caste census data would lead to the 'theft' of representation from OBC, Dalit, and tribal communities, and vowed not to allow injustice against southern, northeastern, northwestern, and smaller states.
Gandhi accused the BJP of failing to provide adequate representation for backward communities and claimed that Prime Minister Modi and the RSS fear the caste census. He insisted that if the government is serious about women's reservation in the assembly, it must implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, which was passed by Parliament in 2023. He described the government's actions as anti-national, accusing Modi of lying and attempting to strip backward communities of their representation. Gandhi stated that Modi's desire for delimitation is unacceptable.
The Nari Shakti Vandan Act, 2023, which provides for 33 percent reservation for women legislators, is linked to the delimitation process in the Lok Sabha. The government plans to implement women's reservation before the 2029 general elections, proposing constitutional amendments to separate the delimitation process from the 2027 census. Reports indicate that the government has suggested increasing the number of seats in the Lok Sabha to 850, with 815 allocated for states and the remaining 35 for union territories, up from the current 543 seats.