Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Demands Lok Sabha Freeze at 543 Seats & One‑Third Women Reservation from 2029

Overview Mallikarjun Kharge , president of the Indian National Congress, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27 August 2026 urging the government to keep the strength of the Lok Sabha at 543 seats for the next 25 years and to introduce a one‑third reservation for women from the 2029 general election. Key Developments Kharge’s letter asks the Prime Minister to share the government’s delimitation proposals with all parties and states. He requests an all‑party meeting before any special session of Parliament is convened. The Congress Working Committee ( CWC ) had already resolved on 19 August 2026 to freeze Lok Sabha strength and state‑wise seat allocation for 25 years and to implement women’s reservation. A similar amendment bill on women’s reservation was defeated on 17 April 2026, falling short of the required two‑thirds majority (298 in favour, 230 against of 528 votes). Important Facts The demand for a freeze aligns with a unanimous resolution of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly , where both the ruling TVK and opposition DMK oppose any delimitation that could penalise states with better population‑control performance. The Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, in a televised interview on 26 August 2026, hinted that a special parliamentary session could be called, prompting Kharge’s renewed appeal. UPSC Relevance These developments touch upon several GS papers. The issue of delimitation is a classic topic in GS 2 (Polity) concerning representation, federal balance, and the Constitution’s amendment procedure. The proposal for a one‑third women’s reservation links to gender‑justice debates in GS 4 (Ethics) and the evolving role of women in Indian politics (GS 2). Understanding the legislative arithmetic of a two‑thirds majority is essential for answering questions on constitutional amendments. Way Forward Kharge’s demand suggests three immediate steps for the government: (i) circulate the detailed delimitation draft to all parties and states; (ii) convene an all‑party forum to discuss the proposals; and (iii) allow a reasonable period for study before introducing any amendment in a special session. The outcome will shape the composition of Parliament for a quarter‑century and influence India’s gender‑representation trajectory.