According to the Constitution, one has to wait till the new census report for the reallocation of seats. The Narendra Modi government is unwilling to wait that long. A bill is being introduced in the special session of Parliament to change this very provision of the Constitution.
The special session of Parliament on April 16-17 is aimed at passing an amendment to the Women's Reservation Act. The Modi government says that the amendment will be brought to implement women's reservation quickly. But in reality, the aim is to rearrange the seats. The Left has opposed this strategy, and various opposition parties including the Congress have objected.
The third sub-section of Article 82 of the Constitution explains the relationship between the delimitation of seats and the census. As per the constitutional directive, the new delimitation will be done after the new census. The Modi government has put the 2021 census on hold. Although it has recently announced its launch, it is uncertain when it will be completed.
The government's bill sent to the MPs seeks to completely repeal the third sub-section of Article 82 of the Constitution so that seats can be reallocated based on the 2011 census. Another proposal in the bill is to amend Article 81 of the Constitution to increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha to 815. Of this, 35 seats will be in the Union Territories.
Although the law to reserve one-third of seats for women was passed in 2023, it did not come into effect. This is because the conditions for seat reallocation and census were added to the law passed before the Lok Sabha elections.
CPI(M) supported the bill but said that this condition would disrupt the reservation of seats for women. Now the Centre has made arrangements for delimitation in the name of removing that condition. Earlier, CPI(M) MP John Brittas addressed the Prime Minister and said that 200 seats will increase in North India. Only 65 seats will increase in South India. The federal balance will be disrupted.
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Pankaj Dhar Choudhury
Pankaj Dhar Choudhury, B.A Hons. in English, M.A in English, B.ED.
He passed Madhyamik from his native village Kumar Gram Duar of Alipurduar district. He got B.A Hons. in English from Alipurduar College. He completed M.A in English from North Bengal University, Siliguri. He completed B.ED from Maldah Govt. Teachers" Training College. He has been a social media activist since 2006.
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