Delimitation Bill Again – Who Will Support? Who Will Oppose?

The Central government may call a special session of Parliament on August 17 to discuss two important Bills – the Delimitation Bill and the Women’s Reservation Amendment Bill.

The move may come soon after the Monsoon Session of Parliament ends on August 13. Government sources said the Centre wants to take up these Bills even though the current session has seen several disruptions. The Centre may not officially end the Monsoon Session. This will allow it to quickly call lawmakers back for the special session.

Centre to Reintroduce Constitutional Amendment Bill

The Bills are part of the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill. The government had earlier introduced it during a special Parliament session in April. However, the Bill could not be passed because the government did not get the required support.

Constitutional amendment Bills need the support of an absolute majority of all members and a two-thirds majority of members present and voting in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Since April, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has improved its numbers in Parliament after political changes in some states.

Who Will Support? Who Will Oppose?

The defeat of the TMC in the West Bengal Assembly elections has helped the NDA move closer to the required numbers in both Houses of Parliament. The government is also looking for support from the DMK, which has 22 Lok Sabha MPs, after political differences emerged between DMK and its INDIA bloc ally, Congress.

However, the DMK has strongly opposed population-based delimitation in the past. The party says such a move could reduce the political representation of southern states like Tamil Nadu, which successfully controlled population growth. Because of this, it is still not clear whether the DMK will support the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill when it is brought back in Parliament.