Congress seeks all-party meet over delimitation issue; reiterates women’s reservation demand in 2029 election

Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge speaking to mediapersons in Kalaburagi Airport on Thursday (August 27, 2026). | Photo Credit: Arun Kulkarni Indian National Congress president and Leader of Oppostion in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday (August 27, 2026) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the possibility of the government convening a special session of Parliament to push the delimitation act.Mr. Kharge, making his letter public, urged the government to convene an all party meeting on the issue and reiterated its position that it doesn’t support any decision to change the strength of the Lok Sabha beyond 543 seats.The Congress president reiterated the party’s demands citing Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju has stated that a special session of Parliament could be convened to discuss delimitation act.“I had last written to you on July 16, 2026, requesting you to convene an All-Party meeting for discussing the Government’s proposals for delimitation. I had also requested you to give all political parties adequate time to study such proposals in detail before they are introduced in any special session of Parliament,” Mr. Kharge said in the letter.I have written to the PM Modi on delimitation, the delay in prorogation of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, and the likely special session mentioned by the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs in a television interview last evening.Sharing the letter — pic.twitter.com/UCFN5LI4WY— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) August 27, 2026He reiterated the request and clarified on the party’s stance on the delimitation issue. It demanded the existing strength of the Lok Sabha be maintained at 543 seats for another 25 years; the existing State-wise strength in the Lok Sabha be maintained for another 25 years; and the government introduces one-third reservation for women from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Published - August 27, 2026 04:00 pm IST