DMK Demands Seat Protections and Blanket Expansion as Delimitation Talks Resume
The DMK has signaled conditional support for the central government's constitutional amendment regarding constituency delimitation, pending a 25-year seat freeze and a flat 50% increase for all states. While Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju continues outreach to the opposition, the ruling
Key takeaways
- DMK demands a 25-year extension of the 1976 seat freeze to prevent regional representation loss.
- The party seeks a 50% blanket increase in Lok Sabha seats for all states, citing verbal assurances from the Home Minister.
- Government outreach to the opposition continues as the NDA seeks the two-thirds majority needed for constitutional amendments.
- The 22 DMK members in the Lok Sabha could prove decisive in reaching the 360-vote threshold for the Bill's passage.
Why It Matters
The proposed delimitation exercise threatens to alter the political weight of various states based on population changes. To protect the interests of states that have successfully implemented population control, the DMK is leveraging its 22 Lok Sabha members as a potential bridge for the government to reach the mandatory two-thirds majority threshold. This negotiation is central to the government's plan to expand the Lok Sabha to 850 seats, a prerequisite for enacting the 33% reservation for women.
Background
Efforts to amend the Constitution for delimitation follow the defeat of the 131st Amendment Bill on April 17. The current seat distribution remains frozen based on the 1971 Census, a restriction set to expire after the 2027 Census completion. Home Minister Amit Shah has previously indicated that the expansion is necessary to facilitate new reservation policies, but opposition parties remain wary of how new boundaries will affect regional representation.
Key Facts
- The DMK seeks to extend the 1976 constitutional freeze on seat ratios for an additional 25 years.
- A core party demand includes a 50% blanket increase in Lok Sabha seats for every state to maintain current power dynamics.
- The government requires 360 votes for a two-thirds majority in the 540-member Lok Sabha; the DMK's 22 votes would bring the current coalition strength to 346.
- In the Rajya Sabha, the NDA holds 158 seats, just short of the 164 votes needed if all 244 members are present.
- The government has recently gained support from 20 former Trinamool Congress members now with the NCPI and six Shiv Sena members from the Shinde faction.
What Happens Next
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has held multiple meetings with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to find common ground. While the Congress party plans to issue a three-line whip to ensure member attendance for upcoming votes on delimitation and FCRA amendments, the DMK maintains that no formal or informal proposal has been received from the government yet. The party will reserve its final judgment until the exact language of the legislation is disclosed. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with NCPI and Shiv Sena MPs to solidify his voting bloc.
Source: The Hindu — National
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