Exclusive: For women’s quota, govt looking at increasing Lok Sabha seats based on Census 2011; ‘816 in Lok Sabha, 273 for women’

The government has suggested an increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats, while maintaining the existing proportion among states, and Vidhan Sabha constituencies as a first step towards implementing the women’s reservation Act. In talks with Opposition parties to evolve a consensus on this, the government has suggested the increase on the basis of Census 2011 – thus delinking it from the ongoing Census. An Opposition party MP who was present at a meeting on Monday chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam told The Indian Express that one proposal was to raise the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816 from 543, after delimitation based on Census 2011. Of these, around 270 seats could be reserved for women, said the MP who did not wish to be named. Shah met leaders of the BJD, YSRCP, NCP (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT) and AIMIM in the Parliament building, and is expected to also hold talks with the Congress, TMC, DMK and SP. Sources said the government may convene an all-party meeting for this Tuesday, with a call on the changes to be taken after that. Leaders of two other parties whose representatives attended the meeting confirmed the suggestions made by Shah. Sources said the Home Minister suggested that the number of seats in the Lok Sabha as well as Vidhan Sabhas be increased by 50%. The government apparently hopes to ensure this as well as implement the women quota from the 2029 general elections onwards. An MP of a party that is an ally of the BJP said the proportion of seats of states would remain the same. This will address the fears of southern states which have been apprehensive about seat increases proportional to population after the ongoing Census and the consequent delimitation. Another crucial suggestion made by Shah was quota for women within the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe reserved seats as well. Parties such as the Samajwadi Party and RJD, as well as backward leaders across groups, have been demanding this. Delinking the ongoing Census from the delimitation exercise also means that the outcome of the caste enumeration will not be factored into it. According to an Opposition leader who attended Monday’s meeting, Shah said that there are around 81 lakh caste groups in the country, suggesting that it was almost impossible to take all into consideration. To implement the changes, the government would need to bring an amendment to the women’s reservation Act, which says quota will be brought in after the ongoing Census and delimitation, and the Delimitation Commission Act. A Delimitation Commission could be formed by June this year, on the basis of the 2011 Census. Sources said the government may extend the Session or call a Special Session for the purpose of amending the Acts.