Amid high intensity Opposition protests against SIR and CEC Gyanesh Kumar, NDTV has learnt that the Centre may call a special session of Parliament later this month to once again push the Bills related to delimitation and women’s reservation.
The DMK, which has been one of the fiercest opponents of delimitation, has since broken away from the INDIA bloc. Sources have further added that the government is also in touch with some smaller parties to shore up its numbers. During the Budget session on April 17, the Modi government faced a setback as the Constitution amendment bill, involving delimitation, for the implementation of the women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was defeated in the Lower House. Now, NDTV has learnt that Union government is in talks with the DMK, which has 22 MPs, to secure its support for the bills after the Dravidian party’s divorce with the Congress after the Tamil Nadu elections. Sources said that the government also expects support from other parties such as the NCP (SP), which has eight Mps, after assurance that 50% guaranteed across the board increase in seats will be made part of the bill.
Sources have told NDTV that the government appears confident of the numbers on the floor of the House and is likely to call a special session. Party leader Supriya Sule had earlier indicated “willingness to talk if 50% was guaranteed”.
