The Union government may convene a special session of Parliament on October 26 and 27 to discuss constitutional amendment bills related to delimitation and women’s reservation, amid escalating opposition protests demanding the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
According to sources, the government is preparing to bring the proposed legislation before the Lok Sabha and is confident of securing the necessary support. Efforts are also reportedly underway to reach out to opposition parties to build wider consensus ahead of a possible vote.
The development comes months after the government’s previous attempt to pass constitutional amendments linked to delimitation and women’s reservation failed in the Lower House on April 17.
Government Seeks Support for Constitutional Amendments
The government had earlier been expected to introduce the bills during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. However, political controversies, including the NEET question paper leak row and demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, reportedly complicated the situation.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have intensified their protests over the SIR exercise and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Despite the political tensions, the government is preparing to revive its legislative agenda and is reportedly reaching out to several parties to secure the numbers required to pass the proposed amendments.
Constitutional amendments require a special majority in Parliament. With 540 members currently in the Lok Sabha, the government would need the support of at least 360 MPs to secure a two-thirds majority, assuming all 540 members constitute the relevant total for the calculation.
Government Explores Support from Regional Parties
Sources indicate that the government’s position may have improved since the previous parliamentary session, with reports suggesting that some regional parties could support the proposed legislation.
The Centre is also reportedly holding discussions with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to explore the possibility of securing additional support.
The political situation in Tamil Nadu has undergone a shift following the formation of a government by actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), with the Congress extending support to the new government. The development has reportedly affected the DMK’s relationship with the INDIA opposition alliance.
The Centre is said to be exploring opportunities to bring the DMK and other smaller parties on board ahead of the proposed parliamentary session.
However, the final numbers and the extent of support available for the bills remain to be established.
Special Session May Be Held on October 26 and 27
According to sources, the special session could be convened on October 26 and 27, with a formal notice potentially being issued a week in advance.
The Monsoon Session, which concluded on August 13, has reportedly not yet been formally prorogued, leaving open the possibility of further parliamentary proceedings, subject to the applicable constitutional and procedural requirements.
The proposed session could prove politically significant, as the government seeks to revive the delimitation and women’s reservation agenda after its earlier setback in the Lok Sabha.
The outcome will depend on the government’s ability to secure the constitutionally required special majority and persuade additional parties to support the proposed amendments.
Note: The proposed dates and the government’s reported efforts to secure support are based on information attributed to sources and should be treated as tentative until officially confirmed.