Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Jul 15: The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has indicated that it could support the Centre's proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill on delimitation if the government agrees to a uniform 50 per cent increase in Lok Sabha seats across all states.
The development comes amid reports that the Sharad Pawar faction may back the Narendra Modi government's contentious delimitation proposal, potentially breaking ranks with the Opposition, which had opposed the bill during the previous Parliament session.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, NCP (Sharad Pawar) MP Supriya Sule said the party's support would depend on the final provisions of the legislation.
"If the government provides for a 50 per cent increase in seats across all states and clearly outlines its implementation, we will support it," she said.
The demand mirrors the party's earlier stand and aligns with an assurance made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the Lok Sabha debate in April. Shah had then said the government was willing to amend the bill to ensure a uniform 50 per cent increase in seats so that no state would be disadvantaged by the delimitation exercise. However, the proposed amendment was not incorporated into the final version of the bill.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeks to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha to 850 seats and facilitate the implementation of women's reservation. The bill failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha during the previous session.
Sule also dismissed speculation surrounding a late-night meeting between senior NCP leader Jayant Patil and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, saying the meeting was related to constituency matters following the suspension of the Zilla Parishad president in Islampur.
The political speculation intensified after senior Congress leader P Chidambaram alleged that the BJP was trying to secure the support of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP and the DMK for the proposed constitutional amendment. Chidambaram urged both parties not to back the bill, arguing that delimitation under the existing formula could disadvantage states that had successfully controlled population growth.
The Centre is expected to introduce the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which begins on July 20.