Discussion on women’s reservation and delimitation continued in Parliament for the second day. Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor strongly opposed the delimitation attempt. He argued that states failing population control now receive political rewards. Moreover, he urged lawmakers to avoid linking women’s reservation with delimitation.
Tharoor Questions Urgency and Government’s Approach
While addressing the Lok Sabha during the special session, Tharoor raised concerns about urgency. He compared the current push with the government’s demonetisation approach. Therefore, he described delimitation as a form of “political demonetisation.” Furthermore, he claimed the issue holds women’s reservation hostage. He insisted that reservation should stand independent from delimitation.
Concerns Over Seat Expansion and Institutional Balance
Additionally, Tharoor criticised plans to increase Lok Sabha seats to 850. He warned that such expansion could weaken institutional efficiency. At the same time, he noted no proposal exists to expand the Rajya Sabha. Consequently, this imbalance could disrupt coordination between both Houses. However, he reaffirmed support for the women’s reservation bill. Still, he suggested delaying the delimitation bill.
Three Key Risks Highlighted in Delimitation Process
Tharoor further outlined three major concerns regarding delimitation outcomes. First, he stressed balancing interests between smaller and larger states. Second, he highlighted disparities between southern and northern states. Southern states implemented population control policies successfully. However, several northern states did not achieve similar outcomes. Therefore, delimitation could reward underperformance with greater political power.
Economic Contribution vs Fund Dependency Debate
Third, he pointed to imbalance between economically strong states and fund-dependent states. He questioned whether such redistribution sends the right national message. Hence, he urged deeper consultation before proceeding further. According to him, careful deliberation remains essential for fair outcomes.
Kanimozhi Raises Process Concerns Over Bill Notification
Meanwhile, DMK MP Kanimozhi questioned the government’s timing of notification. She noted the bill was notified at 10 pm during ongoing discussions. Therefore, she argued this step reflects disregard for parliamentary debate. According to her, such actions weaken institutional respect and democratic process.
