Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Congress termed the convening of a “special session of Parliament” on April 16-18 a violation of the model code of conduct, accusing the BJP of trying to use the women’s quota bill to influence elections in Tamil Nadu and Bengal, which go to polls later this month.AICC spokesman Jairam Ramesh said Congress opposes any “change in relative strength of states” in the Lok Sabha, criticising a “hasty proposal” for a “proportionate” increase in parliamentary seats. He said such a move would permanently disadvantage southern states like TN and Kerala vis-à-vis northern states, while also hurting north-eastern states, north-western states like Punjab, and smaller states. Ramesh said there have been informal inputs that the Modi government is planning a new delimitation law with a 50% increase in seats of all states in the Lok Sabha and assemblies.Quoting Uttar Pradesh and Kerala, Ramesh said seats in UP could rise to 120 from 80, while Kerala’s could increase to 30 from 20. The earlier gap of 60 seats would widen to 90, the Congress neta argued.“The opposition will take a joint stand, and the government’s strategy of dividing political parties will not succeed,” he said. Ramesh also dismissed the government’s argument linking quota and delimitation, citing the Registrar General of India’s statement that census results will be available in 2027.
