NEW DELHI, Oct. 16 -- The Narendra Modi government is considering convening a special session of Parliament later this month to push through legislation on delimitation and women's reservation, with sources indicating that the ruling alliance is confident of securing the required parliamentary majority.
The proposed session would mark another attempt by the Centre to pass the legislative package after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, failed to secure the necessary majority in the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session in April. According to sources, the government has intensified discussions with regional and smaller political parties to secure support for the legislation, which seeks to facilitate the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative Assemblies. The Centre is reportedly in contact with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and other parties as it works towards obtaining the special majority required for constitutional amendments. Although no official dates have been announced, the government could convene Parliament at short notice, with a week's advance intimation to members.
Sources said the government believes the political arithmetic has shifted sufficiently since April to make another attempt at passing the legislation. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has a majority in the Lok Sabha but requires additional support to meet the constitutional threshold for passing the amendment. A constitutional amendment must be supported by a majority of the total membership of each House and at least two-thirds of members present and voting. The government has reportedly been reaching out to parties outside the ruling alliance to bridge the remaining gap.
Sources said the DMK, which has 22 MPs in the Lok Sabha, is among the parties being approached for support. The outreach assumes significance because the DMK has previously opposed delimitation proposals over concerns about their implications for the parliamentary representation of southern states. The government is also said to be in discussions with smaller parties, although no formal agreement on their support has been announced.
The proposed special session follows the government's unsuccessful attempt to advance the legislation during the Budget Session. On April 17, the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failed to obtain the majority required under Article 368 of the Constitution. Consequently, the government did not proceed with the two associated measures - the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The legislative package had been designed to facilitate the implementation of the women's reservation law enacted in 2023. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam provides for reserving one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies for women, but its implementation is linked to a delimitation exercise following the relevant Census process. The government has sought to advance that process through fresh legislation, arguing that further delays would postpone women's representation in elected legislatures. However, the proposals have faced opposition over their implications for the distribution of parliamentary seats among states.
The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to expand the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha to 850 members. Under the legislative framework introduced in April, the number of elected representatives from states could rise to 815, while Union Territories could account for up to 35 seats. The accompanying Delimitation Bill provides for a commission to undertake the redrawing of parliamentary and Assembly constituencies and determine the allocation of seats. The proposals also seek to establish the framework for implementing women's reservation, including reserved constituencies within the existing provisions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The legislation has generated political debate over whether the expansion and redistribution of seats could alter the relative representation of different regions. Southern parties have expressed concern that population-based delimitation could reduce their relative influence in Parliament compared with states that have experienced higher population growth. The Centre has maintained that the existing proportional representation of states would be protected, but differences over the proposed framework have persisted.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament, which concluded on August 13, has not yet been formally prorogued. This leaves open the possibility of reconvening Parliament without waiting for the regular Winter Session. According to sources, the government may provide approximately one week's notice before convening the proposed sitting. The schedule is also expected to take into account the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, scheduled to be held at Samvidhan Sadan on October 26 and 27. The government has not issued an official notification announcing the special session or specifying the dates on which Parliament would meet.
The renewed push comes amid continuing tensions between the government and Opposition parties over electoral-roll revisions and the functioning of the Election Commission. The Congress and several Opposition parties have raised objections to the government's approach to delimitation and demanded broader consultations before proceeding with the legislation. The government has argued that the amendments are necessary to operationalise women's reservation and expand legislative representation. With the proposed constitutional amendment requiring a special majority in both Houses, the position adopted by regional parties could prove crucial to its passage. The latest reports suggest that the Centre is preparing for another legislative attempt, but the final timing of the session and the extent of Opposition support remain unconfirmed. The government is expected to take a decision on convening Parliament after assessing the support available for the proposed Bills.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.