‘Modi government has turned delimitation into a political weapon,’ says Gaurav Gogoi in Lok Sabha

He accused the Narendra Modi-led government of using delimitation as a political weapon.While initiating the discussion on the ‘Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2026’, the ‘Delimitation Bill, 2026’, and the ‘Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026’ related to the Women’s Reservation Act, he said that the government should implement women’s reservation from 2029 itself based on the current strength of the Lok Sabha, which is 543 seats.

Gogoi said that during the discussion on the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill in the previous Lok Sabha, Sonia Gandhi had stated that women’s reservation should be implemented but it should not be linked with delimitation. However, the government did not listen to the opposition at that time.He questioned what had changed in three years that the government’s stance had altered.

Gogoi said, “The Home Minister had given an assurance in 2023 that there would be a census, delimitation would take place, and women’s reservation would be implemented. Now they are saying that there will be a census and delimitation.”

He claimed that it appears the government wants to delay the implementation of women’s reservation.The Congress MP said, “Even today we are saying that women’s reservation should not be linked with delimitation. Implement it in 2029 on the existing 543 seats.”

He said this is not a women’s reservation bill; behind the curtain, it is a political intention to carry out delimitation.Gogoi stated, “If the government was truly in favour of women’s reservation, it would have implemented it immediately.”

He claimed that the government was forced to conduct the caste census.The Congress leader questioned how the government decided that the number of Lok Sabha members should be increased to 815.Gogoi accused the government of wanting to use delimitation as a political weapon.

Citing the recent delimitation exercises carried out in Jammu & Kashmir and Assam, Gogoi said that for this government, delimitation is not for the convenience of citizens but to strengthen political power and political roots.

He said, “In Assam, one Lok Sabha constituency has a population of 16 lakh while another has 26 lakh. For whose convenience was this done?”He claimed that what was done in Jammu & Kashmir and Assam is now being attempted across the country in the name of women’s reservation.

Gogoi said, “It is shameful and sad that women’s reservation is being misused.”The Congress said, “There is suspicion that you are not in favour of women’s reservation and caste census; you are weakening the Constitution.”He claimed, “This bill is anti-women, anti-caste census, anti-Constitution, and against the federal structure.”

Gogoi said, “We are not opposed to women’s reservation. But delink it from delimitation. Do not cook political bread on the issue of women’s reservation.”He added that political balance in the country should not be tampered with for political gains.