NEW DELHI, AUG 23 (PTI/AGENCIES): Parliament’s Monsoon session remains formally open 10 days after both Houses were adjourned sine die, fuelling speculation that the government may seek to advance legislation on delimitation and women’s reservation without immediately convening a new session.
The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned on August 13, but the prorogation notification had not been issued by Sunday. The Budget session, by comparison, ended on April 18 and was prorogued on April 20.
Under the Constitution, the President prorogues Parliament on the recommendation of the government.
The delay has drawn attention amid speculation over a Constitutional amendment bill linked to delimitation and implementation of women’s reservation before the 2029 polls.
The government’s earlier attempt during the Budget session failed to secure the required two-thirds majority.
The proposed delimitation has raised concerns, particularly among southern states, over a possible reduction in their parliamentary representation because of population-based allocation.
Cong asks if Shah still seeking 2/3 majority
The Congress on Sunday questioned why Parliament’s Monsoon session has not been formally prorogued 10 days after both Houses were adjourned sine die, asking whether Union Home Minister Amit Shah was still trying to secure a two-thirds majority for a delimitation-linked Constitutional amendment bill.
Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned on August 13, but the formal prorogation notification had not been issued by Sunday. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said prorogation usually follows within two to four days. “Is the Union Home Minister still in search of his super-tainted 2/3rd majority” to pass the bill in a special session, Ramesh asked. Speculation has centred on legislation linked to implementing women’s reservation before the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.
An earlier attempt during the Budget session failed after the government secured 298 votes against the required 352. Congress has demanded that the present strength of Lok Sabha– 543 seats– be frozen for another 25 years, while one-third reservation for women be implemented from the 2029 elections. The government has reportedly worked on a proposal to increase Lok Sabha seats across states and UTs by a uniform 50% to address concerns over population-based delimitation.
The issue has also drawn opposition from southern states. Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay sought an assurance that no state would lose its share of parliamentary representation due to population stabilisation, while Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar backed retaining 543 seats for 25 years.