Delimitation Row: Kharge Writes to PM Modi, Seeks All-Party Meeting and 25-Year Freeze on Lok Sabha Seats

New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make the government’s proposals on delimitation available to all political parties and state governments, calling for a broad consultation before any decision is taken.

In a letter to the Prime Minister on Thursday, Kharge demanded that the current strength of 543 Lok Sabha seats remain unchanged for the next 25 years. He also called for one-third reservation for women to be implemented from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

Kharge Seeks All-Party Meeting on Delimitation
Kharge called for an all-party meeting to discuss the government’s proposed delimitation framework. He said political parties and state governments should be given adequate time to examine the proposals and present their views.

The Congress chief had made a similar request in a letter to PM Modi on July 16. His latest communication comes against the backdrop of remarks by the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs in an interview about the possibility of convening a special session of Parliament.

Kharge suggested that the developments could be linked to the delay in concluding the Monsoon Session. He urged the government to avoid pushing the delimitation issue through without adequate consultation.

Congress Demands 25-Year Freeze on 543 Seats
Kharge reiterated the Congress’s demand that the 543-seat strength of the Lok Sabha should not be altered for 25 years.

The party has also called for the implementation of one-third reservation for women from the 2029 elections, making it a key part of its demands on the delimitation exercise.

Kharge stressed that delimitation is a major constitutional and political issue and should be addressed through consensus and consultation with all stakeholders rather than being decided unilaterally.