New Delhi: The Centre on Thursday introduced the contentious Delimitation Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha during a special Parliament session, alongside key amendments to operationalise women’s reservation, triggering sharp political reactions and setting the stage for a heated debate.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved the bill in the House, while Home Minister Amit Shah introduced related provisions, including changes for Union Territories. The legislation seeks to establish a fresh Delimitation Commission and redraw parliamentary constituencies as part of a broader electoral overhaul.
At the heart of the proposal is a major restructuring of India’s parliamentary representation. The bill envisages:
Increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to up to 850 seats
Redrawing constituency boundaries based on population changes
Linking delimitation with the implementation of 33% reservation for women from the 2029 general elections.
The introduction of the bill sparked immediate opposition protests. Several opposition leaders objected to the delimitation framework even as they expressed support for women’s reservation.
Here’s who said what?
- Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav demanded completion of the census before moving
ahead with delimitation-related proposals. - Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin burnt a copy of the bill as part of the statewide protest in Namakkal on Thursday
- Congress general secretary K C Venugopal claimed the intention behind introducing the bill is to take away the protection that was offered by Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It was a tacit reference to the 1976 and 2001 freeze on delimitation.
- Earlier in the day, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the Opposition would not allow Parliament to be hijacked by delimitation bills disguised as women’s reservation bill. “We stand united and will fight this devious assault on our Democracy with all our strength,” he wrote on social media.
Government’s defence
The Centre has dismissed the criticism, insisting that no state will lose representation and that concerns are being fuelled by “misinformation.” Union Minister Kiren Rijiju urged opposition parties not to link delimitation with women’s reservation, calling the move “historic” for gender equality.
The government has also indicated that proportional representation among states will remain unchanged even after the proposed expansion of seats.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah told the House that Census 2029 process has already begun. He stressed that “religion-based quota is against Constitution”, adding the government has decided to conduct a caste-based Census.
Why delimitation matters
Delimitation is the process of redrawing electoral constituencies to reflect changes in population and ensure equitable representation.