Chandigarh, Aug. 9 -- The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday announced its support for the women's reservation bill and the delimitation bill, calling for their immediate implementation and backing the Centre's proposal for a uniform 50% increase in the number of seats for all states. The decision was taken at a meeting of senior SAD leaders in Chandigarh, chaired by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, a day after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter's office in the Parliament House complex in New Delhi. The meeting between the two leaders has triggered fresh speculation about a possible rapprochement between the SAD and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which were former allies. The party's support comes as the Centre makes another attempt to secure parliamentary approval for a Constitution Amendment Bill providing for 33% reservation for women in legislatures. The government has also proposed redrawing Lok Sabha constituencies following delimitation and increasing the total number of Lok Sabha seats. Announcing the party's position, Badal said the SAD favoured a "fair and equitable" delimitation exercise that would ensure equal representation for all states. "The Shiromani Akali Dal supported the proposal which was put up by the Government of India on the floor of the House for a uniform increase of 50% of seats of all states," Badal said in a post on X. He added that both women's reservation and delimitation should be implemented without further delay. On women's reservation, Badal said the SAD drew inspiration from the teachings of Sikh Gurus, who championed the dignity, equality and equal rights of women. Union minister Kiren Rijiju welcomed the party's stance, saying, "I wholeheartedly welcome this very important decision taken by Shiromani Akali Dal following the example set by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. We must come together to empower women with a fair and equitable delimitation that ensures equal representation."...