# Chidambaram backs Rahul, calls women’s quota-delimitation link mischievous

2026-08-09T08:43:15+00:00 | Politics | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has accused the BJP of deliberately linking women's reservation to delimitation, calling the move “mischievous”. The 2023 law reserving 33 per cent of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats for women is already passed, he said, and should be implemented before the 2029 elections. His remarks came after Union Minister Kiren Rijiju urged Rahul Gandhi to “unconditionally” support the quota; Gandhi shot back, asking why the government had not implemented the law in three years. Separately, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram warned southern parties DMK and TDP against backing a uniform 50 per cent increase in Lok Sabha seats, arguing this would still leave the South numerically weaker. The political row has stalled the Monsoon Session since July 20. The BJP-led NDA lacks the two-thirds majority needed to pass a new constitutional amendment linking the quota to delimitation.

## Coverage

- indiatoday.in <https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/women-reservation-delimitation-p-chidambaram-kiren-rijiju-rahul-gandhi-2966953-2026-08-09?utm_source=rss>
- deccanherald.com <https://www.deccanherald.com/india/if-rahul-gandhi-truly-favours-womens-quota-why-is-he-not-supporting-its-implementation-bjp-4105085>

Tags: BJP, Congress, delimitation, P Chidambaram, Rahul Gandhi, women’s reservation
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