NCP-SP Ready to Support BJP's Proposal to Increase Lok Sabha Seats by 50%, Says Supriya Sule

New Delhi: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule stated on Saturday that her party is willing to support the BJP-led government's proposal to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats by 50%, provided it is accompanied by the implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill.

Sule revealed that the BJP had recently convened a meeting with opposition leaders to discuss the upcoming Delimitation Bill. During the meeting, the ruling party proposed a 50% increase in Lok Sabha constituencies across all states.

Awaiting the Official Draft and INDIA Bloc Consensus While expressing in-principle support, Sule clarified that the NCP-SP has not yet made a formal decision to back the bill. "We have not received the official copy of the proposed legislation yet," she said, adding that the party plans to discuss the proposal thoroughly with its INDIA bloc allies. If a broader consensus is reached among the coalition partners, the NCP-SP is fully prepared to support it in Parliament.

Sule emphasized that her party strongly advocates for the passage of both the Delimitation Bill and the Women's Reservation Bill, noting that a broad political consensus is crucial for such significant constitutional changes.

Smaller Constituencies Mean Better Administration: The Baramati Example Advocating for the increase in seats, Sule argued that smaller parliamentary constituencies would make it significantly easier for MPs to connect with their voters and streamline administrative and developmental work.

She cited the example of her own constituency, Baramati, pointing out that the voter base there has swelled from 10-12 lakh to a massive 20-22 lakh. Reaching every village and addressing the needs of such a vast area has become increasingly difficult. Furthermore, she noted that the current MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund of ₹5 crore is insufficient to cover the developmental requirements of such large constituencies. Reorganizing and reducing the size of these areas is essential for effective governance, she added.

Government May Call a Special 3-Day Session Sources indicate that the central government may convene a special three-day parliamentary session to introduce the Delimitation Bill. According to reports, a senior BJP leader recently claimed that the NDA government now possesses the required two-thirds majority to pass the legislation, estimating that the bill will clear the house with a margin of 15 to 18 votes.

Why the Bill Failed in April 2026 The proposed legislation, commonly referred to as the Delimitation Bill, is essentially a package of two bills. It aims to increase the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha from the current 550 to 850 seats and redraw the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies. The Modi government previously argued that passing this bill is a mandatory prerequisite for implementing the Women's Reservation Act (reserving 33% of seats for women) ahead of the 2029 general elections.

The government previously called a special session from April 16 to 18, 2026, to introduce the bill. However, as a constitutional amendment, the bill required a special majority—more than half of the total membership present, and at least a two-thirds majority of those voting.

In April, despite securing 298 votes in favor against 230 in opposition, the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill fell short by 54 votes. Following the legislative setback, PM Modi stated, "We didn't have the numbers yesterday, but that doesn't mean we have lost. We will get more opportunities in the future."

With renewed political outreach, the government now appears poised to bring the legislation back to the floor.