Delimitation bill LIVE: South share won't be reduced, says Amit Shah

Tejasvi Surya rejects GSDP link to delimitation as unconstitutional

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on Thursday rejected suggestions to factor in economic output while determining parliamentary representation, calling the idea incompatible with constitutional principles.

Responding to remarks attributed to the Telangana Chief Minister, Surya criticised the proposal to link delimitation with both population and Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). “The Telangana chief minister's argument for linking delimitation to both population and GSDP of states is the most foolish and unconstitutional argument anyone can make,” he said.

He argued that economic indicators are inherently unstable and cannot form the basis for representation in Parliament. “The GSDP of states keeps fluctuating, so will states keep gaining and losing seats?” he added.

Surya said such a model would undermine the principle of equal representation. “It goes against the constitutional mandate of one vote, one value because then the value of the vote of the rich will be more than the value of the vote of the poor,” he said.

Mallikarjun Kharge leads Opposition push against delimitation Bills

As the Lok Sabha took up a set of Constitutional amendment bills tied to the rollout of the women’s reservation law, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge signalled a coordinated pushback from the Opposition, describing the move as an attempt to rework delimitation under another label.

“The Opposition will not allow Parliament to be hijacked by flawed delimitation bills disguised as Women's Reservation. We stand united and will fight this devious assault on our Democracy with all our strength,” Kharge posted on X.

Inside the House, Utpal Kumar Singh outlined the mechanics of a division vote, explaining how members record ‘AYES’, ‘NOES’ or ‘ABSTAIN’. Speaker Om Birla ordered a division on the introduction of the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, after the Opposition objected to a voice vote.

The tally stood at 251 in favour and 185 against out of 333 votes, clearing the way for three bills to be introduced. These include the Constitution amendment, the Delimitation Bill, and changes to Union Territories laws. The proposals tie the implementation of women’s reservation to constituency reorganisation based on 2011 Census data, while also opening the door to expanding the Lok Sabha from 543 seats to a proposed 850, ahead of the 2029 general elections.

Tejasvi Surya says the delimitation plan will boost seats for all states

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya defended the government’s approach to delimitation in the Lok Sabha, arguing that the proposed formula would expand representation across states while addressing concerns raised by southern regions.

Laying out the contrast with the Opposition’s position, he said the government’s plan would avoid the risks tied to maintaining the current cap. “The proposal of the Narendra Modi government on delimitation will increase the seats of the south, while the suggestion of the Opposition to extend the freeze on seats at the current level of 543 will mean that, after women's reservation implementation, many of the current Opposition MPs will lose their seats.”

He also pointed to potential outcomes under different census-based approaches. “Likewise, if we follow the 2011 or 2027 Census figures alone for delimitation, numbers for southern states will go down. The only way southern states will see a rise in their seats is to accept the formula that the Modi government is giving.”

Using Kerala as an example, Surya outlined the variations. “If you go by the 2027 Census, Kerala will lose six seats. If you go by the 2011 Census, Kerala will lose 3 seats, but if you go by the Modi government's formula, Kerala will gain 10 seats because we propose a 50 per cent increase in seats across the board for all states.”

Responding to criticism of the proposal, he added, “Now the Opposition is saying that a 50 per cent uniform increase is unfair. They have not done their homework.”

He then detailed the scale of the proposed expansion. “We are increasing the number of seats for all states to 815, 850, including UTs, and this means a proportionate increase for all states by at least 50 per cent. Once this is passed, the total share of the states in the Lok Sabha will remain the same as it is now,” he said.

Tejasvi Surya accuses the Opposition of U-turn on women’s quota

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya hit back at the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, accusing it of shifting its stand on women’s reservation and misrepresenting the government’s position on delimitation.

Opening his remarks, Surya said the criticism now being raised runs counter to earlier demands. “Opposition has done a U-turn from their own position of 2023. In 2023, they wanted immediate implementation of women's reservation, but now that the government wants to fast-track women's reservation, they are opposing, using the excuse of delimitation.”

He dismissed concerns flagged by Opposition parties, particularly those relating to southern states. “There is not an ounce of truth to the Opposition's misleading and anarchic campaign against delimitation. These Bills offer the best deal that anyone can offer to the states of the South. The South will not lose even an ounce of its political representation.”

Surya also pointed to the historical basis of the current cap on Lok Sabha seats, linking it to earlier assumptions about population trends. “The delimitation freeze was extended till 2026 on the premise that the population of the country will stabilise by 2026,” he said.

Drawing a comparison with past census figures, he questioned the logic of maintaining the existing strength of the House. “In 1971, when the Census was conducted, we had a population of 550 million. Today, we are a country of 140 million, and the Opposition is opposing delimitation. This is absurd. How is this responsible governance when the population has increased threefold, but the number of its representatives has been frozen at 543,” he said.

Gaurav Gogoi warns of smaller states losing voice over delimitation

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi warned in the Lok Sabha that the proposed changes could weaken representation for smaller states, particularly in the North East, if linked to a wider delimitation exercise.

“This Bill is also against states with smaller populations, like the states of the North East. Just because their population is low, they are going to lose their voice in Parliament,” he said, framing the issue as one of balance within the federal structure.

He pointed to earlier political decisions to hold the line on parliamentary strength, invoking former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. “It is to protect that voice that both Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee had frozen the number of seats in the Lok Sabha.”

Gogoi reiterated his party’s position that women’s reservation should be implemented without being tied to fresh delimitation. “We are demanding again, bring women's reservation within the current Lok Sabha of 543 members, but don't use its implementation as an excuse for a political delimitation exercise,” he said.

He closed with an appeal for a more deliberate approach. “I appeal to you not to cause an imbalance in the federal structure. I appeal to you to have a very thorough discussion on delimitation and not push it through like this,” said Gogoi.

Gaurav Gogoi calls Bill a cover for delimitation push

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi sharpened his criticism in the Lok Sabha, accusing the government of using the women’s reservation push to advance a broader political objective tied to delimitation.

Calling the move a cover for a larger redesign of parliamentary representation, he said, “This is an attempt to bulldoze delimitation under the garb of implementing women's reservation. Where has this figure of 850 MP (the proposed new strength of Lok Sabha) come from? What study was done for it? Was a Census done to arrive at that figure? Was there a study? This is why we are opposing this Bill.”

Gogoi argued that delimitation, intended to balance representation, was being repurposed. “Delimitation was supposed to be an exercise to improve governance by increasing people's representation, but they are turning Delimitation into an entirely political weapon to influence elections. We have seen this happening in Assam and in J&K.”

Pointing to disparities he said had emerged after recent exercises, he added, “In Assam, after Delimitation, we have one Lok Sabha of 14 lakh voters and another of 26 lakh voters. Whose benefit is that? It can't be for the people; it is only to benefit you (BJP). This is complete political exploitation of delimitation.”

He then widened the argument, warning that similar changes could be extended nationwide. “The thing they have done in Assam and J&K through Delimitation is what they now want to do at a national level using women's reservation as an excuse.”

Gogoi also questioned the constitutional footing of the proposal, invoking Article 81 of the Constitution of India. “Article 81 of the Constitution provides that Delimitation can be done only based on the first Census taken after 2026. You want to dilute Article 81 and do the Delimitation based on any census of your choosing. How is this constitutional? This Bill is against the federal structure of our country,” he said.

Gaurav Gogoi questions Govt shift on women’s quota, Census timing

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi opened the debate in the Lok Sabha on behalf of his party, aiming for the government’s approach to implementing women’s reservation and questioning the rationale behind the proposed changes.

He pushed back against the framing of the legislation by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, saying it overlooked earlier developments. “The way Arjun Ram Meghwal spoke suggested that this is the first time women's reservation is being brought in. Fact is, women's reservation was enacted unanimously in 2023 itself and 90 per cent of what Meghwal said today was a repeat of what the government had said in 2023,” he said.

Gogoi reiterated the Opposition’s earlier position on the issue. “In 2023, the Opposition had demanded that women's reservation should be implemented immediately and not be linked to Delimitation. Our stance is the same today,” he added.

He also referred to assurances made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah following the 2023 legislation, questioning the shift in timeline. “The Home Minister had said in 2023 that the moment the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are over, the Census will be conducted, delimitation will be done, and women's reservation will be implemented. What has changed in the last 2 years that the government is now saying the Census will take time, and so it wants women's reservation done on the 2011 Census? The Home Minister said a while back that the new Census had begun, so then why don't you wait for its figures?”

Escalating his criticism, Gogoi accused the government of using the issue for political ends. “The fact is that this government is not a supporter of women's reservation. If they had heard us in 2023, women's reservation would have been implemented by now; it could have been given within the current Lok Sabha strength of 543 MPs.”

He went on to link the move to the broader debate on delimitation and caste data. “They are using women's reservation as a safety shield to push a political agenda of delimitation. This hurry also shows that the government is not in favour of a caste census. The only thing that has changed in 2026 from 2023 is that, under pressure from the INDIA bloc, they were forced to accept a caste census alongside the 2027 Census. So is it because the fresh Census will have caste data that you want to implement women's reservation using the 2011 Census,” said Gogoi.

Meghwal backs women’s Quota, cites Ambedkar and Kalam

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal argued that the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, is aimed at advancing gender equality.

Framing his remarks around the broader question of social progress, he invoked B. R. Ambedkar, quoting: “I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved,” Meghwal said.

He then turned to past endorsements of the proposal, recalling comments by former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. “Definitely, the reservation of 33% seats will come. It is only a matter of time, Kalam had said then and the time is here now,” said Meghwal.

He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for pushing what he described as a “historic step” in bringing the measure forward.

Arjun Ram Meghwal says Bills aim to fast-track women’s quota implementation

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Thursday defended the government’s move to fast-track the rollout of women’s reservation, linking the proposed changes to long-standing demands from the Opposition.

“It was the Opposition that wanted immediate implementation of women's reservation immediately when the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed but at the time it was not possible because the Act could be operationalised only after the first Census taken after 2026 was published. These laws seek to correct that so that implementation can be expedited without waiting for the final figures of the 2027 Census. Meghwal says final figures of 2027 Census will not be available before 2028 and so these Bills will allow implementation of women's reservation based on 2011 Census,” said Arjun Ram Meghwal.

He indicated that the proposed legislation is intended to bypass the delay tied to census timelines, allowing the reservation framework to move ahead using existing population data rather than waiting for updated figures.

Om Birla sets vote for tomorrow 4 PM; Arjun Ram Meghwal opens debate

Speaker says Bills will be put to a vote tomorrow at 4 PM, but adds MPs will be given adequate time to speak. Arjun Ram Meghwal initiates a discussion on the Bills.