Centre Plans Special Parliament Session to Pass Delimitation Bill

NEW DELHI : The Union government is considering convening a special session of Parliament to secure the passage of constitutional amendments linked to delimitation and the implementation of 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. The proposal has triggered a fresh political confrontation, with the Congress questioning the government's confidence that it can secure the required parliamentary majority.

Government sources indicated on November 12 that the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was confident of securing the necessary numbers, potentially passing the legislation with a margin of 15 to 18 votes above the required threshold. However, the government has not announced the dates or duration of the proposed special session. The possibility of extending the existing Monsoon Session is also being considered, as it has not yet been formally prorogued after both Houses were adjourned sine die on August 13.

The proposed legislative package includes the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill and legislation concerning delimitation. The government aims to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from its existing 543 seats to a maximum of 850, creating the framework for implementing women's reservation.

The development follows the government's earlier failure to secure the required majority for a similar constitutional amendment during a special sitting of Parliament on April 17, 2026. 

Government Confident of Securing Required Majority

According to government sources, discussions with political parties have improved the NDA's prospects of securing support for the proposed constitutional amendments.

The government is reportedly confident of obtaining 15 to 18 votes more than the required majority. However, the sources have not disclosed which opposition parties may support the legislation or whether some lawmakers are expected to abstain. A constitutional amendment requires a special majority in Parliament. In the Lok Sabha, this means a majority of the total membership and at least two-thirds of members present and voting. The government has cited 361 votes as the required threshold, assuming full attendance under the current House strength.

The proposed amendment seeks to increase the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to 850 through delimitation. This is intended to provide the parliamentary framework for implementing the 33% reservation for women under the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023.

The government has also reportedly explored safeguards for states concerned that population-based delimitation could reduce their relative representation. One proposal under consideration involves increasing the Lok Sabha seat allocation of every state by 50% while retaining existing inter-state representation ratios. However, this remains a reported proposal under discussion, not an enacted or finalised arrangement.

The government is particularly interested in securing support from regional parties, including the DMK, whose leadership has sought assurances that states which successfully implemented population-control measures will not be disadvantaged in the delimitation exercise. 

Congress Accuses Amit Shah of Repeating Earlier Claims

The Congress strongly criticised the government's renewed effort, accusing Union Home Minister Amit Shah of making claims about parliamentary support without demonstrating that the necessary numbers had actually been secured. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh described Shah as a “master of bluff and bluster” and said the government's earlier attempt to pass the legislation had failed decisively.

Ramesh alleged that Shah had informally told journalists that a three-day special session would soon be convened and that the bills would pass with a margin of 15 to 18 votes. Referring to the April 17 defeat, Ramesh said the government had previously made similar claims but failed to secure the required majority in the Lok Sabha. He argued that the opposition would resist another attempt to push through the legislation without addressing its concerns.

The Congress has also questioned the decision to link women's reservation with delimitation. Opposition parties have argued that the 33% reservation should be implemented without making it dependent on a fresh exercise to redraw parliamentary constituencies.

The disagreement reflects wider concerns about how changes in parliamentary representation could affect states with different population growth rates. The government's earlier constitutional amendment proposal failed to secure the required special majority on April 17, falling short by more than 50 votes, according to Ramesh. 

Special Session Remains Unconfirmed as Political Negotiations Continue

Despite the government's confidence, no official schedule has been announced for the proposed special session. The Centre is reportedly examining whether to extend the existing Monsoon Session or convene a separate sitting before the regular Winter Session.

Both Houses were adjourned sine die on August 13 but the Monsoon Session has not been formally prorogued. This leaves the government with the procedural option of extending the existing session at shorter notice rather than summoning a completely new one. The constitutional amendment would need to pass separately in both Houses. It cannot be approved through a joint sitting of Parliament, making support in the Rajya Sabha equally important.

The outcome of the negotiations will therefore depend on whether the government can secure support beyond its existing alliance, particularly from regional parties concerned about the impact of delimitation on their states. For now, the proposed special session remains under consideration, the legislative text and final arrangements have not been officially announced, and the government's claimed vote margin remains untested.

The coming weeks will determine whether the NDA can overcome the parliamentary setback of April and advance its proposed changes to women's reservation and constituency delimitation.