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EYE ON INDIA OCTOBER 23, 2026 | The Indian Eye 8

Delimitation set to trigger

fresh Centre-Opposition

showdown

Congress’s fourth appeal for an all-party meeting, following the government’s failure to secure

a two-thirds majority for its earlier bill, signals that the battle over constituency boundaries
could become another major test of parliamentary consensus

OUR BUREAU Congress leader Vijay Wadetti-
war sharpened the attack, accusing
New Delhi
the Centre of acting arbitrarily and
he proposed delimitation ex- questioning its reluctance to convene
ercise is emerging as another an all-party meeting.
Tflashpoint between the Naren- “Matters of national importance
dra Modi government and the Oppo- should be discussed by both sides,”
sition, with the Congress accusing the was the thrust of his argument, as
Centre of attempting to push through he maintained that consultation was
far-reaching constitutional changes necessary irrespective of the Oppo-
without adequate consultation and sition’s strength. He also questioned
the ruling alliance questioning the why the government was unwilling to
Opposition’s commitment to parlia- discuss the proposals.
mentary debate. The ruling alliance, however, has
The confrontation has acquired turned the criticism back on the Op-
fresh momentum after Congress position. Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC
president and Leader of Opposi- welcomed Kharge’s letter but argued
tion in the Rajya Sabha Mallikar- that opposition leaders should par-
jun Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi with AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi (AICC/ANI Photo) ticipate more constructively in par-
Modi for the fourth time, demanding liamentary proceedings rather than
an immediate all-party meeting be- sent on Friday, he pointed to what he sought an all-party meeting. protest outside Parliament.
fore new delimitation proposals are described as an unprecedented 64- “Please convene an All-Party “It is welcome that the Oppo-
finalised and brought to Parliament. day gap since the Monsoon Session meeting to have a detailed discus- sition has written a letter to Prime
The demand comes after a con- was adjourned sine die on August 13 sion on your new proposals before Minister Modi saying that they want
stitutional amendment bill on delim- without the two Houses being for- they are finalised for consideration in to meet him with an all-party dele-
itation introduced earlier in April mally prorogued. Parliament,” Kharge said, urging the gation,” she said, before questioning
failed to secure the required two- “It has already been 64 days since government to allow parties to de- the absence of opposition leaders
thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on the Monsoon Session of Parliament liberate among themselves and with from parliamentary debate. “They
April 17. The defeat demonstrated was adjourned sine die on August 13, other stakeholders. should also participate positively in
that the government could not rely 2026 and both Houses of Parliament He warned against another uni- the Parliament session,” she added.
on its parliamentary position alone are yet to be prorogued. This scenar- lateral attempt to secure passage of The government now faces a
to carry through a major constitu- io is unprecedented,” he wrote. a constitutional amendment. “Please choice between pursuing a fresh leg-
tional change. Adjournment sine die suspends do not once again try and bulldoze a islative initiative and first attempting
The coming dispute is therefore a sitting without fixing a date for the far-reaching Constitutional Amend- to build consensus. The Opposition,
about more than the technical re- House to reconvene, while proroga- ment Bill through Parliament as you meanwhile, must decide whether its
drawing of constituency boundaries. tion formally ends a parliamentary attempted earlier and that met its demand for consultation will trans-
Delimitation affects parliamentary session. Kharge argued that the pro- well-deserved fate,” he added. late into substantive negotiations or
representation and the balance be- longed uncertainty could fuel spec- The language reflects the depth remain part of a broader campaign
tween regions, making consultation ulation about a sudden reconvening of mistrust between the two sides. against the Centre.
and political agreement central to and leave lawmakers with inade- For the Congress, the failure of the The April defeat has already
the legitimacy of any exercise. With- quate notice. April bill strengthens its argument shown the limits of pushing through
out them, the government risks an- The Congress leader has also that constitutional changes cannot a constitutional amendment without
other legislative confrontation, while sought clarity on the status of the be treated as routine legislative busi- the necessary numbers. Unless the
the Opposition has an opportunity to session and adequate time for politi- ness. For the government, the chal- government and Opposition agree
challenge its approach to constitu- cal parties and regional stakeholders lenge will be to establish a process on a credible process, delimitation
tional reform. to examine any proposed legisla- capable of securing broader support could become another prolonged
Kharge has made the process it- tion. His earlier letters, dated April without allowing the issue to become battle over power, representation
self a central issue. In his latest letter, 11, July 16 and August 27, had also hostage to partisan confrontation. and the rules governing Parliament.

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