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NDA Weighs Special Parliament Session for Women's Quota, Delimitation Bills
In India, the government makes laws in a big meeting called Parliament.
There is a plan to give women 33 out of every 100 seats in the Lok Sabha, where laws are made.
But before that can happen, the government also wants to draw new boundaries for voting areas across the country, which is called delimitation.
To make this change, the government needs a very big yes from two out of every three members who are present and voting.
In April, the government did not get enough votes.
Now the government thinks more members might vote with them because some members have switched sides recently.
The government asked the Congress party to help, but its leader Rahul Gandhi said no.
People are now wondering if the government will call a special session of Parliament to try again.
Some parties in Tamil Nadu fear the new boundaries will not be fair to them, so they may not support the plan.
Speculation is mounting that the Narendra Modi government is considering a special Parliament session to pass a package linking 33% reservation for women with the delimitation exercise.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to discuss the stand-off and seek cooperation, but sources say Gandhi rejected the request outright.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 would expand Lok Sabha seats to 850 and lift boundary freezes before implementing 33% women's reservation.
The NDA failed to secure a two-thirds majority in April, but its numbers have improved with 20 Trinamool Congress MPs joining the NDA-aligned NCPI and six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs crossing to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
After M.K. Stalin's fallout with the Congress, the BJP is exploring support from the DMK's 22 Lok Sabha MPs, though delimitation is politically sensitive in Tamil Nadu.
- Who
- The Narendra Modi government, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with the BJP-led NDA and Opposition parties.
- What
- Buzz that the government may convene a special Parliament session to pass the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, linking 33% women's reservation with delimitation and an expansion of Lok Sabha seats to 850.
- Where
- India's Parliament, including the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
- When
- Wednesday, during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament in 2026.
- Why
- To implement the legislative package linking 33% women's reservation and the delimitation exercise, which requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
BJP-led NDA Government
Congress and INDIA bloc Opposition
Special session for constitutional amendment
BJP-led NDA Government
The government may convene a special session once it is confident of the two-thirds numbers to pass the women's reservation and delimitation package.
Congress and INDIA bloc Opposition
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi rejected the government's cooperation request outright, and the Opposition has been disrupting the ongoing Monsoon Session.
Linking women's reservation to delimitation
BJP-led NDA Government
The Bill expands Lok Sabha seats to 850 and lifts boundary freezes before implementing 33% women's reservation.
Congress and INDIA bloc Opposition
Delimitation is politically sensitive, especially in Tamil Nadu, where Chief Minister Vijay and TVK oppose the exercise, making support uncertain.
Courting the DMK's support
BJP-led NDA Government
After M.K. Stalin's fallout with the Congress, the BJP is exploring the possibility of securing the support of the DMK's 22 Lok Sabha MPs.
Congress and INDIA bloc Opposition
Tamil Nadu parties oppose the delimitation exercise, so DMK support for the NDA may not come easily.
Key facts
- Bill
- Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026
- Women's reservation
- 33%
- Proposed Lok Sabha seats
- 850
- Required majority
- Two-thirds of members present and voting
- Rahul Gandhi's response
- Rejected the government's request, per sources
- April outcome
- NDA lacked the required two-thirds majority in April
- TMC MPs in NDA-aligned NCPI
- 20
- DMK Lok Sabha MPs
- 22
Quotes
Kiren Rijiju
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister
“"Gandhi rejected the government’s request outright."”
thestatesman.com
Sources
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