Government said to be preparing to bring delimitation Bill back to Parliament; special session mooted

The Narendra Modi government at the Centre has begun efforts to bring the Bill on the restructuring of Lok Sabha constituencies, or delimitation, back to Parliament. It is being claimed that the government has come close to the two-thirds majority needed to pass the Bill. For this reason, there is talk in political circles that a special session of Parliament may be called to get it passed.

In April 2026, the Centre introduced in Parliament Constitution amendment Bills relating to delimitation and women's reservation. The Bills could not be passed as the government did not get the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha. At the time of voting, 298 votes were cast in favour of the Bill and 230 against. Passage required 352 votes, so the government had to step back. It was then seen as a political setback for the Modi government.

Parliament's monsoon session was adjourned on August 13 but has not been formally prorogued. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh has criticised the Centre over this. He has alleged that the government is working to muster a majority to get the delimitation Bill passed. The Centre has made no official announcement yet on a special session.

There is talk of raising the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to a maximum of 850 through the proposed delimitation. The process has also been linked to the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women. The Opposition has expressed apprehension that if seats are redistributed on the basis of population, the political representation of the southern states could be relatively reduced. What happens next will depend on the decision on calling a special session, the strength of the numbers in both Houses and the Opposition's stand. Getting the Bill that stalled in April passed again is a challenge for the Modi government.

The strength of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is reported to have grown in the changed political circumstances. According to the November 10 report, the NDA has 319 members in the Lok Sabha and 153 in the Rajya Sabha. The government is said to be trying to muster the required special majority in both Houses. A Constitution amendment Bill needs the votes of two-thirds of the members present and voting in each House, so the alliance's numbers alone will not be enough.