The Central Government has responded to the opposition's allegations regarding the Women's Reservation Bill, clarifying that Lok Sabha seats in South Indian states won't decrease due to delimitation. According to government sources, the concerns raised by the opposition are baseless, and South Indian states will actually benefit from the process. The government has released a detailed breakdown of Lok Sabha seats for South Indian states to address these concerns. Earlier, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also urged the opposition to support the bill.
Maximum Seat Limit and Delimitation Commission
Government sources state that the maximum limit for Lok Sabha seats is fixed at 850 and can't be increased further. A Delimitation Commission will be formed for every state to determine the number of seats for that specific state. The determination of seats in any state will only occur after the Delimitation Commission holds detailed discussions with all political parties in that state, while the government maintains that its formula for a 50% increase in seats ensures justice for all states.
Projected Increase in State-wise Lok Sabha Seats
The government provided specific examples to illustrate how seats will increase under the new delimitation formula:
Special Parliament Session and Legislative Agenda
The Central Government has convened a special three-day Parliament session from April 16 to April 18. During this session, the government will introduce a Constitutional Amendment Bill to expedite the implementation of the Women's Reservation Act 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam). Also, a bill related to the Delimitation Law and specific bills for the three Union Territories with assemblies—Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, and Puducherry—will be tabled.
Opposition Stance and Parliamentary Outlook
The opposition has moved to protest against the Women's Reservation Bill. Following a meeting at Mallikarjun Kharge's residence on Wednesday, opposition parties announced their decision to oppose the bill. Consequently, a stormy session is expected in Parliament on Thursday. The government continues to emphasize that the 50% proportional increase formula is designed to protect the interests of all states while maintaining the 850-seat cap.