Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Jairam Ramesh Accuses Government of Delimitation Majority Game
Jairam Ramesh, a Congress leader, criticized the government’s plans for changing electoral boundaries.
He said the government does not have enough votes for the two-thirds majority needed for a constitutional amendment.
The amendment was connected to implementing women’s reservations in Parliament and state assemblies.
In an earlier vote, 298 lawmakers supported it and 230 opposed it.
The bill needed 352 votes to pass.
Opposition leaders worry that changing boundaries could reduce the influence of some areas.
They also alleged that election-roll revisions and delimitation could benefit the BJP.
The government’s response to these accusations was not included in the report.
Jairam Ramesh accused the Modi government of playing a “diabolical game” over delimitation.
Ramesh claimed the government was at least 26 votes short of a two-thirds majority.
He said opposition parties want Lok Sabha seats frozen at 543 for another 25 years.
The delimitation-related Constitution amendment bill was defeated after 298 MPs supported and 230 opposed it.
Opposition leaders alleged delimitation and electoral-roll revisions could favor the BJP and called for broader consultation.
- Who
- Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, CPI(M)’s John Brittas, and Samajwadi Party’s Javed Ali Khan discussed the issue.
- What
- Opposition leaders criticized the government’s delimitation plans and its handling of a related Constitution amendment bill.
- When
- The remarks were reported on Wednesday, September 23; the bill was defeated during the Budget Session on April 17.
- Where
- New Delhi, at the launch of the book “The Delimitation Debate – The Union and Its Units.”
- Why
- The opposition said the delimitation process could alter seat and geographic representation and potentially favor the BJP.
Opposition Leaders’ Claims
Government Action Reported
Purpose of delimitation
Opposition Leaders’ Claims
Ramesh called the exercise a “diabolical game,” while Brittas alleged that the government intended to gerrymander and favor the BJP.
Government Action Reported
The report says the government introduced a constitutional amendment connected to delimitation and implementation of women’s reservation, but it does not include a response to the opposition’s allegations.
Parliamentary support
Opposition Leaders’ Claims
Ramesh said the government was at least 26 members short of the two-thirds majority needed for the amendment.
Government Action Reported
The reported vote showed 298 members supporting the bill and 230 opposing it, below the 352 votes required.
Consultation and seat freeze
Opposition Leaders’ Claims
Ramesh sought an all-party meeting and said opposition parties wanted the 543 seats to remain frozen for 25 years.
Government Action Reported
The article does not report the government’s position on either the proposed all-party meeting or the 25-year seat freeze.
- Government majority claim
- Jairam Ramesh said the government was at least 26 members short of a two-thirds majority.
- Previous vote
- Of 528 MPs who voted, 298 supported the bill and 230 opposed it.
- Required votes
- The bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority.
- Bill subject
- The Constitution amendment bill concerned delimitation and implementation of women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
- Opposition position
- Ramesh said opposition parties want the 543 Lok Sabha seats to remain frozen for 25 years.
- Key concerns
- Opposition speakers questioned both seat distribution and geographical delimitation.
- Consultation demand
- Ramesh asked why the government had not convened an all-party meeting on its delimitation proposals.