NCP (SP) working president and Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule— DC Image

MUMBAI: NCP (SP) working president and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule on Saturday said her party was willing in principle to support the BJP's proposal to increase Lok Sabha seats by 50 per cent in every state under the proposed delimitation exercise, drawing a sharp response from its INDIA bloc ally Congress.

Sule, however, clarified that her party had not taken a final decision as it was yet to receive an official copy of the proposed Bill. She also stressed that women's reservation should be implemented alongside delimitation.
According to Sule, the BJP had proposed a uniform 50 per cent increase in Lok Sabha seats across all states, irrespective of their populations, at a meeting with Opposition leaders.
“If 50 per cent of seats are increased in each state, we will consider it seriously. If everyone agrees on it, there is no point in opposing the Bill,” she said.
The Baramati MP said she broadly favoured the proposal as parliamentary constituencies had become difficult to manage because of their large populations. She cited her own constituency, with a population of 25 lakh to 30 lakh, as an example.
Reacting sharply, Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said Sule was free to support the proposal but should not invoke the Congress's name.
“If Supriya Sule wants to support the delimitation Bill, she is free to do so. However, she should not invoke the Congress’s name,” he said.
Wadettiwar questioned the basis of her support, alleging that delimitation in Assam had been carried out by taking caste, religion and Opposition strongholds into consideration.
He said the Congress-led government had only reorganised constituencies during the previous delimitation exercise without increasing their number.
Wadettiwar maintained that delimitation should be undertaken within the existing number of Lok Sabha seats rather than expanding the House.


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