Nation

IIE DIGITAL: The Narendra Modi-led government has stepped up efforts to secure parliamentary backing for its proposed constitutional amendment on delimitation and the implementation of the women's reservation law, as it seeks to regain political momentum following recent nationwide student protests and disappointing by-election performances.

In a significant outreach initiative on Wednesday, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju held discussions with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi in an attempt to resolve the ongoing impasse that has stalled proceedings in both Houses of Parliament. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also attended the meeting, which lasted for nearly 45 minutes and focused on restoring legislative business while exploring the possibility of Opposition support for the government's proposed delimitation legislation.

Congress leaders maintained that Parliament could return to normal functioning only if Union Home Minister Amit Shah first addressed allegations of excessive police action against student demonstrators during the July 20 protests. The party argued that Shah's statement on the incident should precede any discussion on pending government legislation. The Home Minister has not participated in parliamentary proceedings since the protests erupted.

According to sources, the Congress also reiterated its opposition to the proposed delimitation exercise and insisted that Parliament should debate the alleged theft of donations from the Ram Temple before regular legislative business resumes. Government representatives, however, maintained that the temple issue could not be discussed because the matter is currently under consideration before the Supreme Court.

The Centre is expected to introduce the constitutional amendment bill before the Monsoon Session concludes on August 13. If required, the government is also considering extending the current session or convening a special sitting later this month to facilitate its legislative agenda.

The proposed amendment is intended to operationalise the women's reservation law enacted in 2023 by increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha from the present 543 seats to as many as 850 through a fresh delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census. An earlier attempt to pass similar legislation failed after the Opposition united against the proposal. However, the ruling BJP now believes recent defections from the Trinamool Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) have improved its chances of securing the required constitutional majority.

During the meeting, Rijiju reportedly informed Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi that Amit Shah would address concerns regarding the July 20 police action while replying to the debate on the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). Congress leaders rejected that approach, insisting that the Home Minister's clarification should come before deliberations on the FCRA legislation. The party also reaffirmed its opposition to the proposed amendments to the Act.

Government sources described the discussions as an effort to secure Opposition cooperation in ending the parliamentary stalemate and advancing important legislative business, including the FCRA amendment and the delimitation proposal. Officials expressed hope that political parties would adopt a constructive approach to ensure Parliament functions smoothly during the remainder of the session.

Despite its confidence, the government continues to face significant arithmetic challenges in passing the constitutional amendment. With the effective strength of the Lok Sabha standing at 540 members, the Centre requires the support of at least 360 MPs to secure the mandatory two-thirds majority. Achieving that figure will require backing from a sizeable section of the Opposition.

The position of the DMK has emerged as a critical factor in the government's calculations. While some within the ruling establishment initially believed the party could support the legislation, recent indications suggest it may not be willing to do so, creating fresh uncertainty over the bill's prospects.

If the government concludes that sufficient numbers remain uncertain, it may still introduce the legislation and subsequently refer it to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for detailed examination before seeking final approval.