Congress President Kharge has urged PM Modi to call an all-party meeting to discuss the Constitution Amendment Bill related to women’s reservation and delimitation. This bill has already failed in the Lok Sabha. Congress has said that it will strongly oppose bringing it back in the monsoon session.
New Delhi [भारत]July 16 (ANI): Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to call an all-party meeting to discuss the government’s “revised proposals” on the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026.
This Constitution Amendment Bill related to 33 percent women’s reservation in the legislature and delimitation in the Lok Sabha was rejected in the Lok Sabha on April 17. The votes cast were 298 in favor and 230 against, which was far short of the constitutionally required two-thirds majority of members present and voting in the House.
Amid speculation that the Center may bring back the bill in the monsoon session of Parliament beginning July 20, Kharge has sought “ample time” to study the proposed legislation before it is introduced in Parliament.
What did Kharge write in the letter?
In a letter to PM Modi, the Congress President wrote, “Throughout March and April, 2026, I had been writing to the Honorable Minister of Parliamentary Affairs requesting that the Central Government convene an all-party meeting to discuss its proposals regarding delimitation, etc. Unfortunately, these requests were not accepted. Subsequently, the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, was tabled on April 17, 2026, after securing the required 2/3 majority in the Lok Sabha. Failed by a clear margin.”
The letter further reads, “I am reading in media reports that the Central Government is now proposing to re-introduce an amended (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, during the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament. I would once again request you to call an all-party meeting to discuss the government’s amended proposals on delimitation etc. and give us adequate time to study them in detail before they are tabled in Parliament.”
Congress will strongly oppose the bill
Earlier today, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the party would strongly oppose the proposed delimitation bill if it is reintroduced in the upcoming monsoon session. Addressing a press conference after the meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group, Ramesh said the party has held detailed discussions on the bills that are likely to be introduced during the session. He said the party has not yet received the official legislative agenda of the government and its details will be known in the all-party meeting to be held on July 19.
Reiterating the party’s stand, Ramesh said, “The Congress party’s stand has always been clear: We will strongly oppose the Delimitation Bill and will continue to do so. We will make every effort to maintain unity among all opposition parties.”
He admitted that now the strength of the NDA has increased as 20 TMC MPs have joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) and six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs have joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
NCP (SCP) also took a clear stand
Meanwhile, NCP (SCP) MP Supriya Sule has rejected media reports that the party will support the central government’s proposed delimitation bill. He termed the party’s stance as “incorrect and speculative”.
The purpose of the Delimitation Bill is to increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha to 850. (ANI)
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