SEATS OF LOK SABHA WILL INCREASE AFTER DELIMITATION

SEATS OF LOK SABHA WILL INCREASE AFTER DELIMITATION

28-MARCH-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

DELHI--------------------------Following the implementation of delimitation, the number of Lok Sabha seats could potentially rise from 543 to approximately 816. This shift could profoundly impact the nature of representation within Indian democracy. The government plans to reserve one-third of the total Lok Sabha seats for women.

The Central Government is making extensive preparations to implement women's reservation ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Work is currently underway on a key proposal regarding the Women's Reservation Bill. Both the Delimitation process and the Women's Reservation Bill are likely to be introduced in Parliament. Once delimitation comes into effect, the total number of Lok Sabha seats could increase from 543 to around 816. This transformation has the potential to significantly alter the landscape of representation in Indian democracy.

The government intends to reserve one-third of the total Lok Sabha seats for women. To achieve this, preparations are being made to introduce amendments to the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' (Women's Empowerment Act). According to sources, the government aims to complete this entire process before the 2029 elections.

Under the proposed plan, the number of Lok Sabha seats could see an increase of approximately 50 percent. To facilitate this, new seats will be demarcated through a Delimitation Commission, with efforts focused on maintaining a balanced population ratio.

The government's objective is to overcome all legal and procedural hurdles to ensure that this framework is implemented prior to the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, thereby guaranteeing increased participation of women in Parliament and fostering a more inclusive system of representation.

Which Indian States Stand to Benefit the Most? An increase in the number of seats is expected to yield significant benefits for the larger states.

Uttar Pradesh: From 80 to 120 (+40), Maharashtra: From 48 to 72 (+24), West Bengal: From 42 to 63 (+21), Bihar: From 40 to 60 (+20). Other Large/Medium-Sized States-Madhya Pradesh: From 29 to... 44 (+15), Rajasthan: Increased from 25 to 38 (+13), Gujarat: Increased from 26 to 39 (+13). Medium-sized States-Odisha: Increased from 21 to 32 (+11), Jharkhand: Increased from 14 to 21 (+7), Assam: Increased from 14 to 21 (+7), Punjab: Increased from 14 to 21 (+7), Chhattisgarh: Increased from 11 to 17 (+6), Haryana: Increased from 10 to 15 (+5). Small States and Union Territories-Delhi: Increased from 7 to 11 (+4), Jammu & Kashmir: Increased from 6 to 8 (+2), Uttarakhand: Increased from 5 to 8 (+3), Himachal Pradesh: Increased from 4 to 6 (+2), Goa: Increased from 2 to 3 (+1). Northeastern States-(Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Sikkim). Increased from 2 to 3 (+1 each). Southern Indian States-Tamil Nadu: Increased from 39 to 59 (+20), Karnataka: Increased from 28 to 42 (+14), Andhra Pradesh: Increased from 25 to 38 (+13), Kerala: Increased from 20 to 30 (+10), Telangana: Increased from 17 to 26 (+9).

Under the proposal, the seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) could be increased from 84 to 126, and those for Scheduled Tribes (ST) from 47 to 70. This would further strengthen the representation of these communities.

The Southern Indian states had previously expressed concerns regarding a potential imbalance in seat allocation due to their population control measures. However, the government asserts that the representation of no state will be diluted. An increase in seats is also proposed for Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Telangana.

A constitutional amendment will be required to implement this entire scheme. To this end, the government is seeking to build a consensus among all political parties—both the ruling side and the opposition.

According to existing legislation, women's reservation was scheduled to be implemented following the 2027 census; however, in light of potential delays, the government is now considering implementing the reservation ahead of schedule by conducting the delimitation exercise based on the 2011 census.