Supriya Sule, a Member of Parliament and leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), outlined conditions for supporting the Delimitation Bill.
The stance comes amid intense speculation regarding the political future of the NCP (SP) and whether the party might realign with the BJP or remain within the INDIA alliance. Because delimitation affects the distribution of parliamentary seats, the party's position could influence the legislative outcome and regional political power dynamics.
Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, Sule addressed the party's requirements for backing the central government's proposal. She said the party will support the Delimitation Bill if it provides for a 50% increase [1] in Lok Sabha seats across all states.
However, Sule provided a more cautious timeline regarding the finality of this position. She said the party has not taken a final decision yet and will discuss the bill within the INDIA bloc after its introduction [2].
The press conference also served to quell rumors of a potential shift in alliances. Sule ruled out a switch to the National Democratic Alliance, affirming the party's current alignment. This clarification follows reports of meetings between party members and government officials, an event that had fueled speculation of a political realignment.
While the demand for a 50% increase [1] in seats serves as a benchmark for support, the party's internal deliberations remain ongoing. The NCP (SP) intends to coordinate its final response with other members of the opposition alliance to ensure a unified front when the bill reaches the floor of the house.
“We will support the Delimitation Bill if it provides for a 50% increase in Lok Sabha seats across all states.”
The NCP (SP)'s conditional support highlights a strategic effort to balance regional interests with alliance loyalty. By demanding a proportional increase in seats across all states, the party is attempting to prevent a scenario where certain regions lose political influence during the redistricting process. This position allows the party to appear cooperative with the central government while remaining firmly anchored within the INDIA bloc.
