New Delhi: The central government intends to introduce a delimitation bill in Parliament, a move that is currently the subject of intense discussion. If the bill passes both Houses of Parliament and receives the President’s assent, the number of Lok Sabha seats across the country will increase significantly. As soon as speculation regarding the bill’s introduction began, opposition political parties started voicing their objections.
On Wednesday, Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay moved a resolution in the Legislative Assembly regarding delimitation. The resolution appeals to the Centre to permanently maintain the Lok Sabha’s strength at 543 seats. CM Vijay stated that there should be no delay in implementing the 33 per cent reservation for women.
He further asserted that reservation for women is not a concession but a constitutional right. Linking the Women’s Reservation Bill to the delimitation process would delay its implementation. Notably, voter turnout among women in Tamil Nadu has surpassed that of men. He emphasised the need to implement the 33 per cent reservation for women without any delay.
Support for 33 per cent Women’s Reservation
Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay has supported the implementation of 3per centtnt reservation for women in the upcoming 2029 Lok Sabha elections. His resolution states that the proposed quota must be based on the current strength of 543 Lok Sabha seats.
Vijay’s resolution highlights the central government’s responsibility to ensure that states which have implemented population control measures do not face adverse effects from the delimitation proposal. Significantly, the opposition party DMK has also backed this decision by the TVK. Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin stated, “We welcome the resolution against delimitation.”
DMK Also Opposes Delimitation
The opposition party DMK has extended its full support to this decision by the TVK government. Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin welcomed the resolution against delimitation and reiterated that Tamil Nadu’s 7 per cent representation in the Lok Sabha must not be reduced. The number of Members of Parliament should not be reduced in the name of constituency delimitation.
It is our view that delimitation of constituencies should not be undertaken for the next 25 years. We welcome the proposal for 33 per cent reservation for women. We maintain a firm stance that Tamil Nadu should not be adversely affected by delimitation. The DMK was the first party to alert the country about the potential impact of delimitation.
Modi Government Plans to Pass Delimitation Bill
It is worth noting that the Modi government at the Centre was preparing to introduce a bill regarding delimitation during the current monsoon session. The government was keen to pass this bill during the session at all costs but refrained from doing so due to a lack of sufficient numbers. This bill has previously failed to pass in Parliament. Even after the rebellion by MPs from the TMC and NCP (UBT), the central government remains short of a two-thirds majority.
