Kharge writes to PM Modi, urges him to hold all-party meeting on delimitation proposals
New Delhi: Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene an all-party meeting before introducing fresh proposals related to delimitation. He has also criticised the delay in proroguing the Monsoon Session of Parliament and warned against pushing through major constitutional changes without adequate consultation.
In a letter to the prime minister, Kharge highlighted that 64 days had passed since the Monsoon Session was adjourned sine die on August 13, while both Houses of Parliament were yet to be formally prorogued. He described the delay as unprecedented and called for greater transparency in the legislative process.
“It has already been 64 days since the Monsoon Session of Parliament was adjourned sine die on August 13, 2026 and both Houses of Parliament are yet to be prorogued. This scenario is unprecedented.You may kindly recall that I had first written to you on April 11, 2026 to convene an All-Party meeting before bringing any Constitutional Amendment Bill on Delimitation. You did not do so. Thereafter you made th,e Bills public on the late evening of April 14, 2026 and convened a special session on April 16, 2026. The Constitutional Amendment Bill on Delimitation failed to muster the necessary two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026 by a decisive margin,” Kharge wrote.
He added, “Thereafter, on July 16, 2026 and August 27, 2026 I wrote to you again repeating our request for an All-Party meeting. I am now doing so for a fourth time. Please convene an All-Party meeting to have a detailed discussion on your new proposals before they are finalized for consideration in Parliament. All political parties must get sufficient time to deliberate among themselves, with each other and with all other stake holders. Please do not once again try and bulldoze a far-reaching Constitutional Amendment Bill through Parliament as you attempted earlier and that met its well-deserved fate”.
Kharge reiterates demand for consultation on delimitation
Kharge recalled that he had first written to Modi on April 11, requesting an all-party meeting before any Constitutional Amendment Bill concerning delimitation was introduced.
According to the Congress leader, the government subsequently made the proposed Bills public on the evening of April 14 and convened a special parliamentary session on April 16. The Constitutional Amendment Bill on delimitation failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on April 17.
He further stated that he had renewed his request in letters dated July 16 and August 27. His latest communication marks the fourth time he has sought consultations with political parties on the issue.
Kharge urged the government to allow political parties sufficient time to examine the proposals, discuss their implications and consult other stakeholders before finalising any legislative measures for parliamentary consideration.
Congress warns against rushing constitutional amendments
Emphasising the significance of constitutional changes, Kharge cautioned the government against attempting to pass a far-reaching Constitutional Amendment Bill without broad political agreement. He argued that detailed deliberations were necessary before new delimitation proposals could be taken up in Parliament.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh shared the letter on X, drawing attention to the delay in proroguing the Monsoon Session and the possibility of further government proposals on delimitation.
The Congress has reiterated its demand for an all-party discussion, placing parliamentary consultation and the process for future delimitation decisions at the centre of the political debate.