Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Supriya Sule on Wednesday (July 15, 2026) said that the delimitation Bill should be fair and just. She said that the party had not yet taken any official position on the Bill, but was willing to do so within 24 hours after the draft is made available.
Referring to reports of her party allegedly supporting the delimitation Bill as a ‘storm in a teacup’, she said the party’s position will be clear within 24 hours after the draft Bill is shared.
She referred to a past meeting with Union Ministers Amit Shah and Kiran Rijiju, where Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena UBT), Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) and she were called separately to discuss about the Bill. She said that the discussion revolved around a 50% increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats in each State, irrespective of the population.
“The formula for the implementation of the delimitation Bill should be given in writing. The southern States feel it is unfair if the number of seats is increased as per population. The Union Home Minister had said that there will be a 50% increase in the seats in each State. But the Bill which was introduced in the House did not mention anything of it,” she said.
Also Read: We are prepared for 2-D Bills — Delimitation and Dismissal, says Jairam Ramesh
She indicated that if these two conditions were fulfilled, there was no reason to oppose it. But when asked if she would support the Bill if these two conditions are fulfilled, she said she will discuss it with the INDIA Bloc partners.
“We will consider supporting, provided the 5% cap is to be discussed. How the Bill is to be implemented is still not known,” she said.
Giving the example of Maharashtra, she said if the new formula is implemented, Maharashtra’s Lok Sabha count will increase from 48 to 72. “Three seats will be earmarked for SC/ST reservation. Of the remaining 69 seats, some seats will be reserved for women. That will leave 48 seats in the open category. How will they be counted? What formula will be used?” she asked.
Shiv Sena UBT MP Arvind Sawant said that though the meeting with Amit Shah had the point of a 50% increase in the number of seats, that was not what was presented in the House. “They (BJP) are hypocritical. They say one thing and do something else. Let them bring about the changes. We will then discuss in INDIA Bloc. We will take a call thereafter,” he told The Hindu.
Refuting speculations about whether her party will join the NDA, she said all eight MPs and MLAs will stick together. “Since we do not budge due to the central agencies, we cannot be pressurised with anything; the BJP has been spreading rumours about us to try to demoralise our cadres,” she said.
Published - July 15, 2026 02:21 pm IST