Congress seeks all-party meet over delimitation issue; reiterates women’s reservation demand in 2029 election

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, speaking to mediapersons in Kalaburagi Airport on August 27, 2026. | Photo Credit: Arun Kulkarni

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday (August 27, 2026) called for the existing strength of the Lok Sabha to be frozen at 543 seats for the next 25 years and sought implementation of a one-third reservation for women from the 2029 Lok Sabha election.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Mr. Kharge urged him to share the government’s proposals on delimitation with all political parties and the State governments. “This is an issue that has enormous significance for the country,” he said, adding, “Please do not again try and bulldoze [the Bill through Parliament] as you attempted on April 16 and 17, 2026.”

Mr. Kharge sought an all-party meeting to discuss the delimitation proposals and adequate time for political parties and State governments to study them before any legislation is brought before Parliament in a special session.

Referring to his July 16 letter to Mr. Modi in which he had made a similar appeal, Mr. Kharge said: “I am writing now to reiterate this request since the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs has publicly stated in a television interview last night that such a special session of Parliament could well be convened.”

Mr. Kharge said the Congress was clear on three points — maintaining the existing strength of the Lok Sabha at 543 for the next 25 years, retaining the existing State-wise allocation of seats for the same period, and introducing a one-third reservation for women from the 2029 election.

“Before you go ahead as indicated by the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, I wish to reiterate my earlier request to you to – convene an all-party meeting to discuss whatever delimitation proposals you have in mind; give all political parties and State governments adequate time to study such proposals,” he said.

On August 19, the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party’s highest decision-making body, called for the Lok Sabha’s strength to be frozen at 543 seats, as well as the existing State-wise allocation, for 25 years, while seeking implementation of a one-third reservation for women from 2029.

The Congress’s latest position is also in line with a unanimous resolution adopted by the Tamil Nadu Assembly on delimitation. The ruling TVK and the Opposition DMK have taken a strong position against any delimitation exercise that could penalise States that have performed better on population control.

During the Budget session on April 17, a Constitution amendment Bill involving delimitation for implementing women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies was defeated in the Lok Sabha.