Special Parliament Session Highlights: Amit Shah says delimitation will benefit South states, outlines seat increase

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The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 11 a.m. on Friday (April 17, 2026)
 

Lok Sabha proceedings have been extended to allow more women speakers to participate in the debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill

AIMIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi, speaking in the Lok Sabha during the special Parliament session, said that if the three bills are passed, the Opposition’s voice in the House could be significantly reduced. He said that linking the women’s reservation framework with delimitation would result in seat allocation being driven largely by population changes.

Owaisi also raised concerns about regional imbalance, arguing that southern states could be disadvantaged despite their economic contributions. He said the south accounts for a significant share of India’s GDP and tax revenue, and warned that governance changes could lead to an imbalance between regions, calling it a potential punishment for better governance outcomes.

The Lok Sabha proceedings have been extended till midnight as the House continues deliberations on key constitutional and legislative proposals, including the Women’s Reservation Bill and related discussions on delimitation.

The extension reflects the intensity and scale of debate, with members from multiple parties actively participating in the discussion. The special Parliament session has seen prolonged exchanges between the Treasury benches and the Opposition over the structure, implementation, and timing of the proposed reforms.

Former Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi welcomed the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, calling it a historic moment of unity in Parliament. She said the real challenge now lies in its effective implementation.

Lekhi noted that despite women’s significant role in India’s freedom struggle, their representation in Parliament has remained low, averaging around 17%. She said that after nearly 80 years of independence, a structured mechanism for ensuring women’s participation has become necessary, adding that repeated earlier attempts at such legislation had failed.

Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh, speaking during the special Parliament session, said he opposes the Delimitation Bill, calling it an attempt to “reshape India’s democratic framework in the name of reform.” He said the proposal raises serious concerns over representation and democratic participation.

Suresh reiterated that the Congress party supports 33% reservation for women but argued it should be implemented without waiting for changes in seat structure. He added that women have already waited long enough and the government should consider immediate alternatives within the existing framework.

Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut, speaking during the special session of the Lok Sabha on the Women’s Reservation Bill, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said there is “no bigger feminist” than him.

She said the daughters of India believe that PM Modi is the true flag bearer of feminism and added that women across the country will remain grateful for the trust he has placed in them. Her remarks came amid the ongoing debate on the landmark women’s reservation legislation in Parliament.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut backed the Women’s Reservation Bill and stressed the need to implement it citing the example of her home state, Himachal Pradesh.

“In Himachal Pradesh, we have 68 MLAs, but one woman MLA. Other states also have similar representation of 8-9 per cent," she said.

In a scathing takedown of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi’s remarks, Ranaut said, "Whenever we try to do something, they say we are destroying democracy."

She accused the Opposition of attempting to mislead people and praised the Prime Minister, saying, "No one is a bigger feminist than the Prime Minister."

Union Minister Giriraj Singh said the Opposition attempted to mislead Parliament during the debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill. He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have already clarified all key aspects of the legislation.

Singh said the bill is aimed at strengthening women’s representation in legislatures and criticised Opposition parties for creating confusion around its provisions and implementation framework.

Tamil Nadu BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy said Union Home Minister Amit Shah has clearly stated that no southern state will lose seats due to delimitation. He accused the Opposition of spreading “fear-mongering” and creating unnecessary confusion among the public.

Thirupathy said the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill will ensure smooth implementation of delimitation alongside women’s reservation. He added that the process will increase overall seats, with one-third reserved for women, and urged Opposition parties to support the reform instead of politicising it.

JMM MP Joba Majhi raised concerns in the Lok Sabha over the timing of the special Parliament session on the Women’s Reservation Bill. She asked what urgent necessity prompted the government to convene a special session during state elections to discuss such a sensitive issue.

Her remarks came during the ongoing debate on the bill, which has seen both support for the reform and questions over its political timing and legislative process.

TDP MP Byreddy Shabari, speaking during the Lok Sabha debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill, launched a sharp attack on the previous YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh. She alleged that the five-year regime was a “dark period” for women, claiming there was coordinated social media abuse targeting women leaders, NDA workers, and even families of political representatives.

Shabari’s remarks came amid a broader debate on women’s safety, representation, and the need for stronger political participation of women in governance.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, speaking amid the special Parliament session, said the Opposition’s proposal on women’s reservation is “simple” and based on three key demands. He called for immediate implementation of the quota without linking it to a census or delimitation exercise.

Gogoi also urged the government to expedite the national census with accurate representation of OBC, SC and ST communities, and to build a national consensus on delimitation. He criticised the Centre for “mixing” issues, alleging attempts to push delimitation while delaying caste census under the cover of the women’s reservation bill.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, speaking during the special Parliament session on the Women’s Reservation Bill, said the Opposition fully supports immediate implementation of the quota but raised concerns over its linkage with delimitation. He said delimitation involves complex issues that require detailed discussion and cannot be rushed.

Tharoor added that southern states and smaller regions have several concerns that need to be addressed through consultation. He said the government could have implemented the reservation earlier in 2023 or should do so now, reiterating Congress’ support while urging wider dialogue on delimitation.