Delimitation Bill Exposes Cracks Within NCP (SP)
Last week, Sule said the NCP (SP) may back the delimitation exercise if the increase in seats was implemented uniformly. Her remarks came amid reports of a possible tie-up between the party and the BJP-led NDA.
Mumbai:Differences have emerged within the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) over the proposed delimitation Bill, with party MLA Rohit Pawar opposing the move and urging MPs to vote against it.
His stand contrasts with that of party working president and Baramati MP Supriya Sule, who had said the party could consider supporting the proposal if the government ensured a 50 per cent increase in Lok Sabha seats across all states.
Last week, Sule said the NCP (SP) may back the delimitation exercise if the increase in seats was implemented uniformly. Her remarks came amid reports of a possible tie-up between the party and the BJP-led NDA.
Rohit Pawar, however, alleged that the ruling party’s priority during the Monsoon Session was to secure passage of the Bill and could offer an increase in seats to garner support.
“The primary objective of the ruling party in the monsoon session of Parliament, starting tomorrow, is to ensure the passage of the ‘Delimitation Bill.’ To achieve this, they may entice states by promising a 50 percent increase in seats through sweet talk. However, if we fall into this trap of numbers and support the bill, the constituencies for the Lok Sabha and assembly will be manipulated for political gain, much like the ward restructuring in municipal elections,” he said in a post on X.
He further alleged that the restructuring would be aimed at retaining political power, citing delimitation in Assam as an example.
“Since 2016, the BJP has already devised a strategy with the help of experienced former officials on how to manipulate constituencies to align their power equations. They are now merely waiting for this bill to be passed,” he said.
“Once this bill is passed, an authoritarian mindset will resurge, brushing aside the opposition as easily as flicking a fly off one’s body. Driven by this very mindset, vigorous preparations are underway to undermine the Constitution – on one hand through delimitation and on the other, through the SIR initiative. Whether to thwart this move or let it succeed by supporting the bill directly or indirectly, everyone needs to think about it carefully.”
