YSR Congress Party Backs Women's Reservation and Delimitation Bills, Shocking Opposition

Support for Key Legislative Bills

In a significant development amidst ongoing debates over women's reservation and delimitation bills, the central government has received a boost. The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), led by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, has officially decided to support these bills. This move is perceived as a major setback for the opposition.

According to YSRCP General Secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, as reported by an English newspaper, the party has no objections to a direct 50% increase in Lok Sabha seats rather than a distribution based on population. He stated that if a state has 40 seats, an additional 20 would be added; for 80 seats, 40 more would be included. This approach maintains the ratio of seats and addresses concerns from southern states. He noted that increasing seats based on population could lead to various complications.

Legislative Majority Required

To pass the women's reservation bill and the constitutional amendment bill, the NDA requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament. Currently, the NDA holds 292 seats in the Lok Sabha and 139 in the Rajya Sabha. With the support of YSRCP, which has four MPs in the Lok Sabha and seven in the Rajya Sabha, the ruling coalition is better positioned to facilitate the passage of these bills.

Opposition Criticism

The Congress party has criticized YSRCP's decision to support delimitation. They argue that this move will only widen the gap between the north and south. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Congress leader Manickam Tagore accused Jagan Mohan Reddy of compromising Andhra Pradesh's future by aligning with the Modi government on delimitation. He suggested that Reddy's support may be an attempt to gain temporary relief from ongoing CBI cases.

Tagore remarked, "Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy appears ready to align with Narendra Modi once again—this time on the contentious delimitation issue. While Andhra Pradesh's voice and future representation are at stake, Jagan's priority seems to remain unchanged: protecting himself from long-standing cases. Is this support based on principle, or merely a tactic for political survival?" The Congress-led opposition claims that the Modi government aims to isolate southern and northeastern states through the delimitation bill, although they have stated they are not against women's reservation. During a debate on delimitation, Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K.C. Venugopal accused the Modi government of wanting to strip OBCs of their rights and insisted that a caste census should be conducted first.

Government's Assurance

In response, top government officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, assured that the strength of southern states would not diminish post-delimitation, while also accusing the opposition of misleading the public.

Upcoming Vote

The Lok Sabha is set to vote on the constitutional amendment bill and the delimitation bill on Friday.

Public Reaction

Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy once again seems ready to fall in line with Narendra Modi—this time on the contentious delimitation issue.

While Andhra Pradesh’s voice and future representation are at stake, Jagan’s priority appears unchanged: protecting himself from long-pending… pic.twitter.com/ToRhgDwVq3

— Manickam Tagore .B🇮🇳மாணிக்கம் தாகூர்.ப (@manickamtagore) April 16, 2026