Centre revives delimitation bill as Kiren Rijiju contacts Rahul Gandhi

The Story in Brief

The government renewed its bid for a delimitation bill that proposes to raise the Lok Sabha’s strength by over 50% and implement one‑third reservation for women from 2029. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju met Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi for nearly 50 minutes; Gandhi, accompanied by AICC general secretary KC Venugopal and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, reiterated the Opposition’s view that the proposal could allow the government to redraw constituencies to the NDA’s advantage. The meeting formed part of the government’s outreach to break a parliamentary impasse caused by protests. The Constitution amendment that was defeated in the last session-it got 298 votes against the required 352-may be revived, though timing is uncertain with suggestions of introduction before 13 August or reconvening Parliament after 15 August. The government also appears likely to push the FCRA amendment, which Opposition parties, NGOs, Muslim organisations and church bodies have criticised; some of these groups sought support from US lawmaker Riley Moore.

The Indian Opinion

Claims on both sides are strong and deserve scrutiny. The government points to an assurance by the home minister that every state’s seats would increase by 50%, preserving existing shares; if that assurance is formally included in any bill it could reduce some state-level objections, but the exact text and safeguards are not yet public. Opposition warnings that delimitation could be used for electoral advantage are political accusations that cannot be resolved without the bill’s details and voting arithmetic. Criticism of the FCRA amendment as “draconian” reflects genuine concern among civil society, yet remains a contested characterisation. Given unresolved timing and incomplete legislative text, readers should note significant uncertainty about final provisions and parliamentary support.

Original article: Centre renews bid for delimitation bill as Rijiju reaches out to Rahul Gandhi (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

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