NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule stated on Saturday that her party would consider supporting a proposed Delimitation Bill in principle, provided it includes a uniform 50 per cent increase in Lok Sabha seats across all states. Sule clarified that while no fresh proposal or official bill has been shared by the government, her party remains open to the concept if it ensures no state faces injustice.
Sule referenced an informal meeting held by the government approximately six months ago, which she attended alongside Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. During this discussion, a proposal for a flat 50 per cent hike in representation from Kashmir to Kanyakumari was floated. Sule noted that she found the suggestion reasonable due to the significant growth in electorate sizes, which in some parts of Maharashtra have reached 40 lakh voters per constituency.
The stance has drawn a sharp reaction from the Congress, an alliance partner of the NCP (SP). Congress Legislative Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar stated that if Sule wishes to support the bill, she is welcome to do so, but should not associate the Congress party with it. Wadettiwar further disputed Sule’s reference to the 2007 delimitation exercise, stating that the Congress-led government at the time only changed reserved constituencies and did not increase the total number of seats.
Addressing the need for such changes, Sule remarked that managing large populations with an MPLADS fund of Rs 5 crore is unsustainable. She stressed that her party would consult with its alliance partners to build consensus before making a final decision. Furthermore, Sule emphasized that the issue of women’s reservation should be prioritized alongside any new delimitation formula, noting that her party had previously supported the women's reservation bill unanimously.
Key facts
- Supriya Sule confirmed her party has not received an official copy of any Delimitation Bill.
- The proposal discussed in a government meeting suggested a flat 50 per cent increase in seats per state.
- Sule argued that some constituencies in Maharashtra now have up to 40 lakh voters.
- Vijay Wadettiwar said the 2007 delimitation exercise only involved reserved constituency changes.
- The NCP (SP) insists on consulting INDIA bloc partners before finalizing any support for the proposal.
Why it matters
The proposed changes to constituency boundaries and seat allocations remain a sensitive political topic. The debate over whether such adjustments should be population-based or uniform across states continues to create friction between political allies, as parties navigate the impact of potential changes on national representation.
Background
The last major delimitation exercise in India was conducted in 2007, during a period when the Nationalist Congress Party was part of a coalition government at the Centre and in Maharashtra.
Source: Economic Times, Indian Express
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