DMK Open to Talks on Delimitation Bill if Tamil Nadu Interests Protected
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
DMK, with 22 Lok Sabha MPs, signals willingness to negotiate on the Constitution amendment bill for increasing Lok Sabha seats and implementing women's reservation from 2029, provided an 'ironclad guarantee' that southern states' seat shares won't be reduced. This could boost the government's efforts to secure a two-thirds majority for the bill.
Background
The government seeks to pass a Constitution amendment bill to increase Lok Sabha seats and implement women's reservation from 2029. In the previous session, the bill received 298 votes but fell short of the required two-thirds majority. DMK and other opposition parties had opposed it, citing concerns over delimitation reducing southern states' representation.
Key facts
DMK has 22 members in Lok Sabha and is open to negotiation if the government guarantees that Tamil Nadu and other southern states' interests won't be compromised due to delimitation.
DMK demands that the concrete share of each state be spelt out in advance to rule out any possibility of southern states losing out.
The government had earlier offered to write into the bill a commitment of 50% increase in representation for all states, but DMK remained unconvinced.
DMK's reconsideration comes after the disintegration of Trinamool Congress and split in Sena UBT, improving the government's numbers.
NCP-SP (Sharad Pawar faction) with 8 MPs has also indicated willingness to support the bill.
The government is likely to incorporate changes, including a written declaration that seats in every state will increase by 50%.
DMK accused Congress of betraying the INDIA bloc by allying with Vijay-led TVK after winning five seats in assembly polls with DMK's support.
No formal consultation with the government has happened yet, according to DMK.
Prelims pointers
- Constitution amendment bill requires two-thirds majority in both Houses.
- Women's reservation law (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) is to be implemented from 2029.
- Delimitation is the process of redrawing Lok Sabha constituency boundaries based on population.
- DMK: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, a major party in Tamil Nadu.
- NCP-SP: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction).
- INDIA bloc: Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.
- TVK: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by actor Vijay.
Mains angles
- Discuss the federal implications of delimitation on southern states' representation in Lok Sabha.
- Analyze the political dynamics within the INDIA bloc and its impact on opposition unity.
- Evaluate the government's strategy to secure two-thirds majority for constitutional amendments.
- Examine the interplay between women's reservation and delimitation in the proposed bill.