Overview
- Amit Shah said the government wants one in three seats reserved for women in the 2029 elections and stressed it cannot start without delimitation, which redraws constituencies.
- The Home Minister said the Centre is seeking talks to set up a delimitation commission and accused Congress leaders of asking to delay discussions until May.
- Several opposition parties asked for an all-party meeting to map out how the quota would work and requested that it be held after the current round of assembly elections in April.
- Reporting in The New Indian Express cites options under consideration, including using 2011 Census data and adding about 50% more seats, though these steps are unconfirmed and face legal and logistical questions.
- Experts quoted in coverage call delimitation an arduous process that requires state consultations and constituency-by-constituency hearings, which could slow any plan to activate the 2023 law known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Act.