LIVE | Parliament special session: Centre tables delimitation, women’s quota bills, sparks Opposition fury

The government has tabled three bills in Lok Sabha to implement the women's quota law by 2029 and increase the strength of the House to up to 850, sparking opposition fury.

Summary

The special session of Parliament witnessed a high-stakes showdown on Thursday as Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Amit Shah moved to introduce three bills in the Lok Sabha to amend the women’s quota law and set up a delimitation commission, amid opposition protests calling the proposals "anti-constitutional."

The core issue is delimitation, which opposition parties say would reduce representation for southern states while favouring northern ones. They have urged the government not to link the delimitation exercise with the implementation of the women’s reservation law.

According to the draft Constitution amendment bill, Lok Sabha seats will be increased to a maximum of 850 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.

Seats will also be increased in state and Union territory assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women. The seats reserved for women in the Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies "shall be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a state or Union territory", the draft bill circulated among Lok Sabha members said.

Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned till Friday

Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till Friday morning after oath-taking by newly elected members and obituary references.

BJP national president Nitin Nabin was among those who took oath as a Rajya Sabha member. The newly elected MPs represent Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Maharashtra.

The MPs who took the oath are Terash Gowalla (BJP), Jogen Mohan (BJP), and Pramod Boro (UPP-L), all from Assam.

Nabin, Upendra Kushwaha (RLM), Ram Nath Thakur (JDU), and Shivesh Kumar (BJP) have been elected from Bihar; while Laxmi Verma (BJP) and Phulo Devi Netam (Congress) represent Chhattisgarh.

Karamvir Singh Boudh (Congress) and Sanjay Bhatia (BJP) represent Haryana, while Anurag Sharma of Congress has been elected from Himachal Pradesh.

Others who took the oath were Vinod Shridhar Tawde (BJP, Maharashtra) and Sujeet Kumar (BJP, Odisha).

Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Vem Narendar Reddy, both from Congress, represent Telangana.

Favour 2023 women quota law; but present bill aims at delimitation: DMK

Opposing the bills introduced by the Centre, DMK’s TR Baalu said in the Lok Sabha, "We favour the 2023 women’s quota law, but the present bill is aimed at delimitation."

Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin hoisted a black flag and burnt a copy of the proposed Delimitation Bill, intensifying his protest against the Centre’s move to table the legislation in Parliament.

DMK members were dressed in black clothes in LS to protest amendments to women reservation law.

Parliamentary assemblies could become dysfunctional :CPI(M) MP John Brittas on delimitation

CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas said parliamentary assemblies could become “dysfunctional” if the number of members increases following delimitation.

"The governement is using people, especially Women Reservation Bill, for their own reputation and political image… After 543 seats, and especially after delimitation, people are asking what will happen. It is not about North-South divide, but there is a fear that parliamentary assemblies could become dysfunctional if the number of members increases too much, like 815 members, making it difficult to manage effectively," he said.

"If this balance of representation is disturbed, even leaders like Gandhi or Atal Bihari Vajpayee would have found it problematic. There is concern that such changes may not be good governance and may not serve the country well," Brittas addded.

Samajwadi Party objects to women’s quota tweaks as delimitation is delinked from Census

Samajwadi Party protested the bills seeking changes to the women’s quota law, questioning the move to delink delimitation from the Census. Calling for wider inclusion, SP’s Dharmendra Yadav said women from backward classes must be accommodated in the quota for Parliament.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav questioned the rush to introduce the bills. “We support women’s reservation in legislatures, but why not conduct the Census?” he asked in the Lok Sabha.

Responding to Akhilesh, HM Amit Shah said, "Akhilesh Yadav asked why the census is not being conducted. I want to inform the entire country that the census process has already begun. The government has taken a decision to conduct a caste census, and the enumeration is being carried out along with caste data."

"If it were up to the Samajwadi Party, they would even assign castes to households. Dharmendra Yadav spoke about giving reservations to Muslim women. This is unconstitutional. Reservation based on religion is unconstitutional," he added.

'Fundamental attack on federal structure': Congress opposes delimitation, women’s quota bills

As the Centre introduced the delimitation and women’s quota bills in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP KC Venugopal launched a scathing attack, questioning why proposed changes to the women’s quota law were being incorporated when it had already been passed by Parliament.

"I object to the bill introduced by Union Ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Amit Shah. This bill is a fundamental attack on the Indian federal structure. What exactly is the intention of this bill? The parliament passed the bill in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, ensuring 33 per cent reservation of women," Venugopal said in the House.

To this Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded claiming Venugopal "cannot speak on the merits of bills, and he can raise only technical objections to the introduction of the bills." He added that the government "will give a strong reply to the Opposition during the debate."

Centre tables delimitation, women’s quota bills

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Home Minister Amit Shah moves to introduce bills to tweak women quota law and set up delimitation panel.

Shah introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to amend the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023, officially known as the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, which reserves one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women ahead of the 2029 general elections.

INDIA bloc to oppose women's reservation, delimitation bills in both Houses

Prior to the proceedings, Opposition parties under the INDIA bloc met in the Parliament premises on Thursday to chalk out their strategy for the special session, focusing on their stand on the Women's Reservation Bill and the proposed delimitation Bill. Opposition parties are set to bills, including those on women's reservation and delimitation, in both Houses of Parliament.

Special session of Parliament underway

The three-day special session of Parliament with focus on women's reservation and delimitation is underway.

Discussion on Women's Reservation, delimitation will take place in House: Law Minister

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Thursday said that discussions regarding the Women's Reservation Bill and the proposed delimitation exercise would take place in Parliament. "Further discussions on this will take place in the House," Meghwal told ANI, responding to queries on the Women's Reservation Bill and delimitation.

The three important bills are likely to be introduced in the special session of Parliament starting today, including one to reserve seats for women in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and another to redraw constituency boundaries. The opposition has raised concerns about the reasons for changing these boundaries and increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to a maximum of 850.

Congress calls govt's bills 'mischievous', demands complete rejection

The Congress on Thursday said the true intent of the bills being brought by the government in the garb of implementing women's quota law is mischievous and they have to be rejected completely in their present shape and form.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the three bills are being taken up in Lok Sabha and the packaging and marketing is women's reservation but the fundamentals have to do with delimitation.

"Many concerns have been raised from across the country regarding the delimitation proposals that privilege a few populous states where the BJP is strong now. The relative strength of a number of states in the Lok Sabha will actually decline," Ramesh said on X.

The way delimitation has actually been done in Assam and Jammu and Kashmir shows how "diabolically the Modi-Shah duo work" he said.

"The true intent of these Bills is mischievous, their content devious, and their damage enormous. They have to be rejected completely in their present shape and form," Ramesh asserted.

"The Opposition demand is simple: Reserve one-third of the current strength of the Lok Sabha of 543 for women along with reservation for women belonging to SC, ST, and OBC communities," he said.

This was the Opposition's position in 2023 and this continues to be the position even now, he added.

Three Bills are being taken up in the Lok Sabha. The packaging and marketing is women’s reservation but the fundamentals have to do with delimitation.

Many concerns have been raised from across the country regarding the delimitation proposals that privilege a few populous…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 16, 2026

Key takeaways from Delimitation Bill, 2026

• Delimitation Bill, 2026 (replacing the 2002 law), proposes expanding Lok Sabha from 543 to 850 seats based on 2011 Census. Law to override existing provisions. Delimitation Act, 2002, to be repealed.

• Centre to constitute a Delimitation Commission via notification, which will redraw Lok Sabha and Assembly seats using 2011 Census data.

• Commission to be headed by current or former Supreme Court judge; Chief Election Commissioner or an Election Commissioner nominated by the CEC, and the concerned State Election Commissioner to serve as ex-officio members.

• Commission’s term to be fixed, with provision for extension by Centre

• Mandate includes seat allocation to states/UTs and redrawing constituencies. Up to 10 associate members per state (MPs, MLAs) to assist the exercise. Commission can seek inputs from Census officials, Surveyor General, GIS experts

• Constituencies to be geographically compact, factoring boundaries and connectivity. Draft proposals to be published; objections invited before finalisation.

Stalin hoists black flag, burns copy of Delimitation Bill

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday hoisted a black flag and burnt a copy of the proposed Delimitation Bill, intensifying his protest against the Centre’s move to table the legislation in Parliament.

The symbolic protest is part of a larger statewide call given by him, urging people to hoist black flags at their homes, in streets, and at commercial establishments to express opposition.

After burning the bill, slogans of “Tamil Nadu will fight” and “We will win together” were raised by the Chief Minister and others present.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin burns a copy of the proposed delimitation amendment in Namakkal during a statewide protest against the Union government over the delimitation issue on Thursday.(Photo | EPS)

'Historic step towards women's empowerment', says PM Modi ahead of special Parliament sitting

Ahead of the special Parliament sitting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India was set to take a "historic step" towards women's empowerment.

"Starting today, in the special session of Parliament, our country is all set to take a historic step towards women's empowerment. The respect for our mothers and sisters is the respect for the nation, and with this very spirit, we are moving forward resolutely in this direction," the PM posted on X.

The Centre has called a special sitting of Parliament from April 16 to 18.

The government is planning to implement the women's reservation ahead of the 2029 General Elections by bringing in an amendment to the 2023 Act and a constitutional amendment to delink the delimitation process from the 2027 census.

The government has proposed to increase the number of seats in the House to 850, with 815 seats proposed for the States and the remaining 35 for the Union Territories. The Lok Sabha has 543 seats at present.

The opposition to the proposed delimitation bill has been mounting for a long time and has escalated after the Centre's recent approval of draft amendment bills to operationalise the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023. The opposition has also objected to haste in convening a special Parliament sitting amid the election season.

Shah likely to table Bill to amend women's reservation, PM Modi to speak in Parliament this afternoon

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, along with Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, is set to table the amendment to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam at the special three-day sitting of the Budget Session.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address the special session of Parliament this afternoon.

The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which provides for 33 per cent reservation for women legislators, is linked to the delimitation process in the Lok Sabha. The government is planning to implement the women's reservation ahead of the 2029 General Elections by bringing in an amendment to the 2023 Act and a constitutional amendment to delink the delimitation process from the 2027 census.

Opposition speaks in one voice, to vote against amendments

Opposition parties across the country have questioned the BJP-led NDA government over delimitation, expressing concern over the proposed exercise that has seen southern non-BJP CMs rally together, expressing concern over their state's interests.

Opposition leaders raised concerns over the lack of consensus and timing of the session and have resolved to vote against the amendments in Parliament, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said.

Kharge said in Delhi that several opposition parties have decided to unitedly vote against the delimitation provisions in the Constitution amendment bill in Parliament, while asserting that they are not against womens' reservation. They were opposed to the manner in which the bill is being brought.

"All of us are in favour of the women reservation bill, but have reservations on the way in which it is being brought. It is politically motivated. Just to gag and suppress opposition parties, the government is doing this," Kharge said.

"We are continuously supporting women's reservation. We are insisting that an earlier amendment that was passed be implemented. They (the BJP-led government) are playing tricks with delimitation. Therefore, all parties have taken a decision unitedly to oppose this bill," he added.

Summary

Parliament is set for a high-stakes showdown during a special session from April 16 to 18, as the Union government moves to amend the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women’s Reservation Act) and introduce a delimitation bill to expand the Lok Sabha to 850 seats.

The core issue is delimitation, which opposition parties say would reduce representation for southern states while favouring northern ones. They have urged the government not to link the delimitation exercise with the implementation of the women’s reservation law.

The government plans to operationalise the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023), which reserves one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women, ahead of the 2029 general elections through an amendment to the 2023 law.

It will also introduce the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposing to expand the Lok Sabha to 850 seats and amend Articles 81 and 82. The bill seeks to delink delimitation from the 2027 census, allowing the exercise to be based on pre-2026 population data.

Three bills are slated for the April 16–18 session: the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

The proposed expansion would raise Lok Sabha seats from the current 543 to 850, including 815 seats for states and 35 for union territories.