The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) is set to support the controversial Delimitation Bill during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, according to reports, in a move that could mark a key departure from the broader Opposition’s stand on the proposed legislation. According to a report by India Today quoting sources, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), despite not being part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), is expected to vote in favour of the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which seeks to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha to 850 seats and facilitate the next delimitation exercise.
Supriya Sule Hints At Changing Stand Over Delimitation
The party has indicated it could reconsider its position if the government agrees to a key demand. Speaking earlier today, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule said the party would be open to discussions if the proposed legislation explicitly guarantees a 50 per cent increase in Lok Sabha and state Assembly seats across all states. “If the 50 per cent condition is put in writing, then we will discuss it,” Sule told reporters. She also said she attended an all-party meeting convened by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to deliberate on the bill. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was among those present. According to Sule, the government has floated a proposal to incorporate the 50 per cent provision into the legislation. However, she stressed that the party has yet to receive the final draft. “The bill is still not with us. I can’t comment on it until we have it,” she said. The reported decision comes amid heightened political activity in Maharashtra following a series of meetings between leaders of the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition NCP (SP), triggering fresh speculation over changing political equations in the state.
Both NCP Factions’ Leaders Meet CM Fadnavis
According to reports, senior NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his official residence, Varsha, on Tuesday night regarding issues related to his Uran-Islampur Assembly constituency in Sangli district. Separately, senior ruling NCP leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare also met the chief minister, although the report quoting sources clarified that the meetings were held independently. The back-to-back interactions have fuelled speculation about a possible thaw in relations between the two rival NCP factions and even renewed discussions of a potential rapprochement or merger.
The political buzz intensified after senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram alleged that the BJP was attempting to secure the support of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and the DMK for the proposed constitutional amendment. In a post on X, Chidambaram urged both parties not to support the legislation, arguing that delimitation based on the current formula would disproportionately reduce the parliamentary representation of states that had successfully controlled population growth in accordance with the National Population Policy. The Centre is expected to introduce the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which is scheduled to commence on July 20. If introduced, the legislation is likely to trigger intense political debate, with delimitation emerging as one of the key issues before Parliament.
