Discussion is going on in the Parliament to pass the Women’s Reservation Bill (Women Quota bill 2023). After passing from the Lok Sabha, it has been placed for discussion in the Rajya Sabha. After passing from here on September 21, the bill will become law. With this, 33 percent of the posts for women MPs in Lok Sabha and Assembly will be reserved. However, even after making the law, there are some difficulties before implementing it in the elections.
Experts say that the new census-based delimitation may become a hindrance in implementing it in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This is because the census assessment is scheduled to be done in 2026. Delimitation will happen only after that as per law. Implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill is possible only after the new delimitation.
What is delimitation?
However, before this, let us know what delimitation is and when it came into effect for the first time in India. According to the Election Commission, Delimitation is the act under which the boundaries of electoral areas are decided. This work is done by the Delimitation Commission.
When did delimitation happen for the first time
So far, Delimitation Commission has been formed 4 times in the country, under which the boundaries of electoral constituencies were decided.
1. 1952
2. 1963
3. 1972
4. 2002
Why did delimitation stop after 1976?
In 1976, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had stopped the delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies till 2000. After this, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee re-implemented the delimitation till 2026. It will expire in 2026.
How will Lok Sabha change after delimitation?
There are more seats for Lok Sabha MPs in the new Parliament building. It has been increased from 545 to 888. This means that if delimitation is done again in 2026 and Lok Sabha constituencies are decided according to the census, then the number of MPs is also expected to increase.
Why are the states of South India protesting?
Political parties of South India have been opposing census-based delimitation for a long time. He is of the opinion that census-based delimitation in the Lok Sabha will benefit the states of North and Central India. DMK says that states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala will face the punishment of family planning. States like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, which could not implement family planning and have high population, will benefit.
who will benefit more
Based on the current census and probable population, after the delimitation of 2026, there will be a total of 222 MPs from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. According to the data of Carnegidowment.org, 4 states of South India will be able to represent only 165 seats in total. Another study states that Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh will gain a total of 22 seats. Whereas Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana and Tamil Nadu got 17 seats.
After delimitation, the strength of the new Parliament House will be like this