Editorial criticizes government's "smoke-and-mirrors" approach to delimitation bill
An editorial criticizes the government's handling of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which aimed to link women's reservation with delimitation based on the 2011 Census. The article labels the approach as "smoke-and-mirrors," designed to confuse and divide the Opposition. It highlights that the 2011 Census basis would disproportionately reduce the representation of southern, eastern, and northeastern states due to their lower population growth. The editorial commends the INDIA bloc's unity in defeating the Bill, emphasizing that the two-thirds threshold exists to prevent structural changes without broad agreement.
Key Points
- The editorial strongly criticizes the government's method of linking women's reservation with delimitation based on the 2011 Census.
- It argues that using the 2011 Census would unfairly reduce the Lok Sabha representation of southern, eastern, and northeastern states.
- The article praises the INDIA bloc for its unity in voting against the controversial Bill, overlooking internal differences.
- It suggests that the defeat should prompt the government to pursue women's reservation through a constitutionally mandated route, completing the 2026-27 Census, and referring delimitation to a parliamentary committee.
- The two-thirds majority requirement for constitutional amendments serves as a crucial safeguard against unilateral structural changes.
Exam Facts
- Bill: Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026.
- Voting: 298 in favour, 230 against; 352 votes (two-thirds) required for passage.
- Census basis: 2011 Census (criticized); 2026-27 Census suggested for future.
- Potential seat loss: Andhra Pradesh (5 seats), Tamil Nadu (11 seats).
- Constitutional requirement: Two-thirds majority for constitutional amendments.
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