The political landscape regarding the upcoming Delimitation Bill and Women's Reservation Bill has seen a significant development as the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) has laid down its conditions, while supriya Sule, the Executive President of the party, addressed a press conference in Mumbai on Wednesday, clarifying the party's stance on these crucial constitutional amendments expected in the Monsoon Session of Parliament. Sule emphasized that the party has not yet revealed its final cards but is open to discussion under specific circumstances.
The 50 Percent Seat Increase Condition
Supriya Sule stated that her primary demand is for the government to officially propose a 50 percent increase in the number of seats. She insisted that this condition must be brought forward in writing before any formal discussions can take place, while "My point is simply that the condition of increasing seats by 50 percent should be brought in writing first, after which we will discuss it," Sule told reporters. She further added that if the INDIA alliance agrees to this proposal, the NCP (Sharad Pawar) would be ready for further deliberations. Currently, no such written proposal has been presented to the party.
Amit Shah's Statements in Lok Sabha
The context of this demand stems from remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha. Shah had previously expressed support for a 50 percent increase in seats, although this provision wasn't included in the initial draft of the bill. According to the model discussed by the Home Minister, the current 543 seats in the Lok Sabha would increase to 816 seats. This expansion is intended to ensure that states in South India don't face a disadvantage due to the Delimitation Bill 2026. Shah noted that the number of MPs from South India would rise from the current 129 to 195 under this 50 percent growth model. He clarified that the government has not made changes to the Delimitation Commission Act itself, repeating the old act with every full stop and comma intact. Plus, elections until 2029 will continue to be held under the old seat arrangements and systems.
Waiting for the Official Bill
Sule pointed out that the new bill has not yet reached the opposition leaders. She questioned how she could comment on the specifics of the legislation without having reviewed the document. "The new bill has not reached us yet, so how can I talk about it without seeing it? Once the bill is introduced, I can study it and state my position within 24 hours," she said. She also touched upon the history of the Women's Reservation Bill, noting that it was once passed in the Indian Parliament by a margin of just one vote. She advocated for the bill to be passed unanimously this time, reflecting the collective will of the nation.
Consultations and Internal Party Unity
Before addressing the media, Supriya Sule held extensive consultations with key political figures. She mentioned discussing the matter with the Congress President, Sanjay Raut, and Bunty Patil Dada. She also consulted with Sharad Pawar, Jayantrao, and Shashikant Shinde to ensure that all party MPs and MLAs were well-informed. Sule explained that the press conference was called to clear any misunderstandings that might have arisen from fragmented reporting. She acknowledged the pressure on reporters from their head offices but felt it was necessary to provide a definitive party stance to avoid confusion regarding who is in Nagpur or elsewhere.