Delimitation decoded: Centre's plan to expand Lok Sabha and Women's quota defeated; what happens next

Parliament defeated the government's proposal to expand the Lok Sabha from 543 to 850 seats, apply a 33% women’s reservation, and redraw constituencies. The bill would have preserved states’ proportional shares while increasing total seats and establishing a delimitation commission to redraw boundaries, headed by a former Supreme Court judge with a chief election commissioner or a nominee as a member, and delinking the delimitation from the 2011 census. Two related bills, including one to set up a delimitation commission, were not tabled in the Rajya Sabha, and Parliament was adjourned. Opposition leaders described the move as a backdoor delimitation; government officials signaled an amendment could be offered, and PM Modi urged MPs to reflect on their conscience. After the vote, Congress’s Rahul Gandhi thanked TMC's Abhishek Banerjee; Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused Modi of linking women’s quota to delimitation; other voices from the opposition and regional parties flagged concerns about southern states and the constitutional framework.

The Women’s Reservation Act 2023, which provides for a 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, came into effect amid ongoing debate on proposed bills.