Delimitation Bill 2026 shelved after women’s reservation amendment fails in Lok Sabha

The government on Friday decided not to move ahead with the Delimitation Bill after the Constitution Amendment Bill on women’s reservation failed to pass in the Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, adding that the two are interconnected.

The women’s reservation amendment bill secured 278 votes in favour and 211 against, falling short of the special two-thirds majority required for passage.

Rijiju said the delimitation exercise was linked to the implementation of women’s reservation, and the government would also drop the proposed amendment to extend the quota to Union Territories.


Also Read: Lok Sabha rejects women's reservation proposals under the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2026

The Centre had earlier pitched the delimitation exercise alongside the rollout of women’s reservation, arguing that the two were interconnected. Following the setback, Rijiju said the BJP would continue its efforts to push for greater representation for women.

The development marks a halt to the proposed overhaul of parliamentary constituencies, which had triggered sharp political debate, particularly over its potential impact on representation across states.

The legislation sought to redraw Lok Sabha constituencies and expand the strength of the House ahead of the next delimitation exercise, expected after the current freeze on seat redistribution ends in 2026.

Under the proposal, states and union territories with a single Lok Sabha constituency—such as Sikkim, Nagaland and Mizoram—would see no increase in parliamentary seats, while states with an odd number of seats would benefit through rounding up. Most other states are expected to see a 50% increase in seat allocation. The proposal also includes a marginal rise in Scheduled Caste (SC) representation.

Opposition leaders argued that delimitation based on population trends could disproportionately benefit northern states while reducing the South’s share in Parliament. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin and other leaders have opposed the move, citing concerns over fairness and the federal balance.

Delimitation, mandated under Articles 82 and 170 of the Constitution, involves redrawing parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on census data. With the freeze on seat redistribution set to end in 2026, the proposed changes have intensified the debate over representation, population control and the balance of political power between states.

The bill was also linked to the implementation of 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies, adding to the political sensitivity around the exercise.

Also Read: No state will lose out in delimitation, says Amit Shah; offers 50% seat hike amendment if Opposition backs bill

As the women's reservation amendment bill fails, the future of the bill seemed dark, setting the stage for further debate over the redrawing of India’s electoral map.