Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Kharge Seeks 25-Year Freeze on Lok Sabha Seats
Mallikarjun Kharge asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a meeting with all political parties about changing electoral boundaries.
He wants the government to show its plans before taking them to Parliament.
He also wants parties and state governments to have enough time to study the plans.
The Congress wants the Lok Sabha to keep its current 543 seats for 25 more years.
It also wants each state’s current share of seats to stay the same.
Kharge wants one-third of the existing seats reserved for women starting in 2029.
The request came after Minister Kiren Rijiju suggested that Parliament might hold another special sitting.
The debate is partly about whether southern states could lose representation because their populations have grown more slowly.
Mallikarjun Kharge urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene an all-party meeting on the government’s delimitation proposals.
Kharge asked political parties and state governments to receive the proposals and adequate time to study them.
The Congress wants the Lok Sabha’s 543 seats and existing state-wise allocation frozen for another 25 years.
Kharge also demanded one-third reservation for women on existing Lok Sabha seats beginning with the 2029 elections.
A delimitation-linked Constitution amendment bill received 298 votes for and 230 against, short of the 352 votes required.
- Who
- Congress president and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to act on the issue.
- What
- Kharge requested an all-party meeting, disclosure of delimitation proposals, time for review, a 25-year freeze on the Lok Sabha’s 543 seats and state-wise allocation, and one-third women’s reservation from 2029.
- When
- Kharge made the request on August 27, 2026, reiterating a letter sent on July 16, 2026.
- Where
- The issue concerns the Lok Sabha and Parliament of India, with political parties and state governments involved.
- Why
- Kharge said delimitation has enormous significance and should not proceed without adequate consultation.
Congress and consultation concerns
Government’s reported delimitation process
Consultation before legislation
Congress and consultation concerns
Kharge and the Congress want an all-party meeting, disclosure of the government’s proposals, and adequate time for parties and state governments to examine them.
Government’s reported delimitation process
The government has reportedly considered introducing or discussing delimitation-related proposals during another or special parliamentary sitting, but the articles do not provide the proposals’ details.
Lok Sabha seat allocation
Congress and consultation concerns
The Congress wants the existing 543 seats and current state-wise allocation preserved for another 25 years.
Government’s reported delimitation process
The proposed delimitation exercise concerns redrawing parliamentary boundaries based on population; the articles do not specify its final seat-allocation formula.
Regional representation
Congress and consultation concerns
Congress and other opposition concerns focus on the possibility that southern states could lose representation because their populations have grown more slowly after population-control efforts.
Government’s reported delimitation process
Population-based redrawing is presented as the basis of the delimitation exercise, although the government’s detailed position is not stated in the articles.
Women’s reservation
Congress and consultation concerns
Kharge wants one-third reservation for women implemented on the existing seats from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Government’s reported delimitation process
The government had sought support for a delimitation-linked Constitution amendment bill involving women’s reservation, but the bill failed to obtain the required two-thirds majority.
- Current Lok Sabha strength
- 543 seats
- Requested freeze
- Kharge wants the total Lok Sabha strength and existing state-wise seat allocation maintained for another 25 years.
- Women’s reservation
- One-third reservation on existing Lok Sabha seats beginning with the 2029 elections.
- Consultation requested
- An all-party meeting and adequate time for political parties and state governments to study the proposals.
- Possible parliamentary sitting
- Kiren Rijiju reportedly indicated that another or special sitting of Parliament could be convened.
- Earlier bill vote
- A delimitation-linked Constitution amendment bill received 298 votes in favour and 230 against among 528 votes cast.
- Required majority
- The bill required 352 votes, or a two-thirds majority, to pass.
Sources
Delimitation row: Congress calls for Lok Sabha strength to be frozen at 543 for 25 years
Kharge Writes to PM Modi, Seeks 25-Year Freeze on Lok Sabha Seat Strength Amid Delimitation Debate
'Keep Strength Of Lok Sabha Seats At 543 For 25 Years': M Kharge To PM Modi
Freeze 543 LS seats for 25 Years, Kharge tells Modi
