DMK sets its terms to back delimitation Bill
POLITY – BILL/ACT
7 AUGUST 2026
- The Lok Sabha seat freeze based on the 1971 Census ends after the next Census, expected in 2027.
- The Centre is considering a Constitutional Amendment Bill for a fresh delimitation exercise.
Government’s Plan
- Government aims to:
- Increase Lok Sabha strength to 850 seats.
- Implement 33% reservation for women after fresh delimitation.
DMK’s Three Conditions
- Extend the freeze on Lok Sabha seat allocation for another 25 years.
- Increase Lok Sabha seats by 50% for all States, as verbally promised by Home Minister Amit Shah.
- Include a Schedule specifying the number of seats for each State in the legislation.
- DMK has not yet been formally or informally approached by the Centre.
- The party will decide only after seeing the final text of the Bills.
Lok Sabha
- Current strength: 540 members
- Two-thirds majority required: 360 votes
- NDA + DMK support would reach 346 votes.
- Government would still be 14 votes short, unless some MPs abstain.
Rajya Sabha
- Total members: 244
- Two-thirds majority: 164 votes
- NDA currently has 158 MPs, making passage comparatively easier.
Political Developments
- Since April, the government has gained support from:
- 20 former Trinamool Congress MPs, now in the National Citizens Party of India (NCPI).
- 6 Shiv Sena MPs who joined the Eknath Shinde faction.
