Congress to oppose delimitation bill under women's reservation guise
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
Congress has announced it will oppose any delimitation bill brought under the guise of women's reservation. Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge has written to PM Modi seeking an all-party meeting before the Monsoon Session.
Background
The Women's Reservation Bill (108th Amendment) was passed in 2023, reserving one-third of seats in Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women. Delimitation is the process of redrawing constituency boundaries based on population changes, which is linked to the implementation of women's reservation.
Key facts
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari stated the party will oppose the delimitation bill if it is brought under the name of women's reservation.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Prime Minister Modi, urging an all-party meeting on the matter before the Monsoon Session.
The Women's Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) was passed in September 2023, reserving 33% of seats in Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women.
Delimitation is constitutionally mandated after each census to adjust constituency boundaries based on population shifts.
The implementation of women's reservation is linked to the next delimitation exercise, which is due after the first census post-2026.
Opposition parties fear that delimitation could be used to alter the political balance, especially in southern states with better population control.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament is expected to begin in July 2025.
Prelims pointers
- Women's Reservation Bill: 108th Amendment Act, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam)
- Delimitation: Article 82 (read with Article 170) of the Constitution
- Delimitation Commission: constituted under the Delimitation Act, 2002
- Monsoon Session: typically July-August
- All-party meeting: convened by the government to build consensus on key issues
Mains angles
- GS2: Parliament and State Legislatures – functioning, issues of representation, and constitutional amendments
- GS2: Women's reservation – need, implementation challenges, and linkage with delimitation
- GS2: Federalism – impact of delimitation on regional representation and political balance
- GS2: Government policies and interventions – role of all-party meetings in consensus building