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After Kharge’s letter to PM Modi, Kiren Rijiju defends govt’s delimitation consultations

hellohimachalse@gmail.com 19 Oct 2026 1 hour ago

New Delhi: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has responded to Congress president and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, rejecting the claim that the government failed to consult opposition parties on the proposed Delimitation Constitutional Amendment Bill.

In a letter dated October 19, 2026, Rijiju outlined the government’s efforts to hold discussions with political parties and build consensus on the proposed legislation. He said consultations had taken place with several regional and opposition parties, including the DMK, Samajwadi Party (SP), YSRCP, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), AIMIM and BJD.

Rijiju says Congress was approached several times

Responding to Kharge’s demand for an all-party meeting, Rijiju said the government had repeatedly approached the Congress leadership to discuss the matter.

“I wrote to you on 16th March 2026, 26th March 2026, and 12th April 2026 in this regard,” Rijiju wrote in his response.

He added that he had also spoken directly with Kharge and met Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi during the Monsoon Session to seek their cooperation.

According to Rijiju, the Congress did not provide dates for formal discussions despite these requests. He said the government subsequently expanded its consultations to include other political parties in an effort to build agreement on the proposed bill.

Govt responds to concerns over Parliament Session

Rijiju also addressed Kharge’s concerns about the delay in proroguing both Houses of Parliament after they were adjourned sine die on August 13, 2026.

Kharge had pointed out that 64 days had passed without the Monsoon Session being formally prorogued, describing the delay as unprecedented.

In response, Rijiju said the Constitution does not prescribe a specific timeframe within which Parliament must be prorogued after being adjourned sine die. He also referred to previous instances in which the Houses remained unprorogued for extended periods, arguing that such delays did not necessarily amount to a constitutional or procedural irregularity.

Kharge seeks all-party meeting on delimitation

Last week, Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking an all-party meeting before any proposed delimitation exercise. He warned against moving forward with a far-reaching Constitutional Amendment Bill without wider consultations.

Kharge said he had first written to the Prime Minister on April 11, urging him to bring political parties together before introducing legislation on delimitation.

The Congress leader has raised concerns about the consultation process and the timing of the proposed legislation. Rijiju, meanwhile, has urged the party to engage constructively with the government and support the smooth functioning of Parliament.

The exchange highlights differences between the government and the Congress over consultations, parliamentary procedure and the proposed delimitation legislation.

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