The government will now hold talks with DMK and NCP (Sharad) to reach a consensus on the special session of Parliament with the new draft of the Constitution Amendment Bill related to delimitation and women’s reservation. In the new draft, as per the demands of these parties, a provision for proportionate increase of 50 per cent seats in the Lok Sabha and Assembly seats of all the states will be included in writing.
The government is also in touch with SP for special session and direct or indirect support on this bill. Despite the new political battle over SIR and the sharp attitude of the opposition, the government is hopeful of reaching an agreement with DMK and NCP (Sharad) on the delimitation bill. This issue was discussed in an important meeting of MPs called by DMK chief MK Stalin in Chennai on Saturday. It was decided in the meeting that the draft bill should be seen first to take a final decision in this matter. In the special session called for this bill in February, DMK had questioned the mere verbal assurance on increasing the seats by 50 per cent equally in all the states.
What happened with NCP-DMK?
Government sources say that fresh talks have taken place for the special session. The main demand of both the parties is to include in writing in the bill an equal increase of 50 percent in the seats of all the states. Now next week the government will negotiate with a new draft of the bill, in which the provision related to similar increase will be recorded in writing. The said source said that as far as the different stance of these parties on SIR is concerned, it is due to political reasons. These parties do not want Congress to accuse them of compromising on this matter.
Women reservation will not be implemented without delimitation
When the Nari Shakti Vandan Act i.e. Women’s Reservation Act was brought, a clear provision was made in it that 33% seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies could not be implemented until the new delimitation was completed in the country.
Delimitation decides where the boundaries of which areas will be and where seats will be created, while women’s reservation will decide which seats will be reserved for women. This is the reason why both are connected to each other.
The government had called a three-day special session from April 15 to 17 to pass delimitation and women’s reservation. But during this time the bill could not be passed. The last meeting of the monsoon session of Parliament was held on 13 August. Even after two months, the session has not been formally announced yet.
Talks can be made with the support of DMK, NCP (Sharad), TMC rebel group
With the support of DMK, NCP (Sharad), Trinamool rebel group, it will be very close to the two-thirds majority required for the bill. Because before this Shiv Sena had also split in UBT. The government is convincing SP to directly or indirectly support the bill. Sources say that since there are assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, SP would not like to emerge as a hindrance in the path of women’s reservation under these circumstances. On the question of contact with SP, the senior government minister said, we want a clear lead over the opposition in terms of numbers.
