The standoff between the government and the opposition continues in the monsoon session of Parliament. To resolve the ongoing impasse, the government is now directly engaging with the opposition. Government sources have stated that the government is in contact with Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
It is reported that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Rahul Gandhi have spoken again. This is the third such conversation between the government and Rahul Gandhi during the current monsoon session. Rijiju and Rahul Gandhi also spoke on Wednesday.
With just a week left in the monsoon session, the government is looking to introduce the Delimitation Bill. The Delimitation Bill was not passed during the Budget session due to opposition.
Kiren Rijiju has spoken with Rahul Gandhi to seek his support for the Delimitation Bill. A discussion on this issue also took place on Wednesday.
Sources said Rahul Gandhi told Rijiju that Congress would consult with its India Bloc allies before making a decision. Gandhi stated that any decision would be made only after discussions with allies. Sources also indicate that the government is in talks with Congress, as it is the main opposition party.
The central government has already held discussions with several political parties regarding the Delimitation Bill. It is reported that the government is also in contact with India Bloc parties—the Samajwadi Party, the DMK, and the NCP (SP). Sources said the DMK has sought assurances from the government regarding the interests of its state.
The government has introduced the Delimitation Bill to delimit Lok Sabha seats. This bill requires a constitutional amendment. This bill proposes increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 850. Passage of this bill will provide 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies.
This is a constitutional amendment bill, so it must be passed with a two-thirds majority. When the bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha during the Budget session in April, it received 298 votes in favour and 230 against.