Congress outlines three core demands: Lok Sabha size, state seats, women quota

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge sent a formal letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlining the party’s clear stance on the delimitation debate. The communication listed three core demands that the Congress expects to be respected for the next 25 years.

First, the total membership of the Lok Sabha should stay at 543 seats, preserving the present size of the lower house. Second, the allocation of seats to each state must remain as it is today, ensuring that regional representation does not shift in response to population changes. Third, starting with the 2029 general elections, a one‑third reservation for women should be introduced to improve gender balance in Parliament.

Kharge also asked the Prime Minister to order a multi‑party meeting to discuss any delimitation proposals before the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs proceeds with a special session. He warned that any attempt to impose a decision without broad consensus would be viewed as undemocratic, especially by the southern states that fear a reduction in their legislative voice.