Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) working president Sharadchandra Pawar Supriya Sule said on Wednesday that her party may consider supporting the proposed delimitation bill only if the Center explicitly guarantees a 50% increase in the number of seats to all states in equal proportions.
It also demanded that the legislation clearly explain the formula for redrawing parliamentary electoral districts.
“The new delimitation bill has not been introduced yet. If it includes a clause ensuring 50% increase in seats for all states, we will discuss it within the India Caucus. If it serves the interests of the people, we will consider supporting it,” Sule said during a press conference at the YB Chavan Center in Mumbai.
The Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader said the party conveyed its reservations on the proposed legislation during a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. According to Sule, the Center has assured the opposition parties that their concerns, especially regarding placing a 50% cap on seat increase, will be addressed in the bill. However, when the previous version was put forward, those assertions were not taken into account, leading to its defeat.
“We have all unanimously agreed to the Women’s Reservation Bill in the past. As far as the delimitation bill is concerned, it should clearly state that the number of seats in all states will increase by 50% in equal proportions,” she said. “There should also be a 50% cap so that no country faces injustice.”
Sule’s remarks came amid speculation that the Narendra Modi-led NDA government may introduce the demarcation bill during the monsoon session of Parliament scheduled to begin on July 20.
She also said that the draft law must clearly define the methodology for demarcating boundaries in each electoral district.
“We all know what happened with Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi’s Lok Sabha (Kaliapur) constituency in Assam during delimitation. So, we have concerns about the formula the government may adopt while redrawing constituency boundaries,” the Baramati MP said.
A reunion on the cards?
Sule also addressed the speculation following senior NCP leader Jayant Patel’s meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his official residence, Varsha, on Tuesday evening, where two senior leaders from the rival NCP faction – Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare – were reportedly present.
“It was a scheduled meeting. Jayant Patel had gone to meet the chief minister to raise concerns about the action taken against our party council president from Ishwarpur,” she said.
When asked about the presence of Patel and Tatkare, Sule said: “I don’t know. Only the Prime Minister can reveal the truth. What I know is that Jayant Patel did not try to hide anything. He entered and exited the Prime Minister’s Residence through the front gate.”
The meeting has raised speculation that efforts to reunite the two rival factions of the NCP have been revived with the BJP’s approval.
However, Sule dismissed speculation about his possible merger with Congress or the party joining the NDA.
“We are part of the India bloc. We have not received any proposal from the Congress nor given them any proposal on merger. Likewise, we have not received any proposal from the BJP nor given them any proposal. We are happy with where we are at the moment,” Sule added.
