India's Monsoon Parliament Session Tackles Delimitation Bill, Mekedatu Dispute

The government is gearing up to push a constitutional amendment that combines a nationwide delimitation exercise with a 33 % reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Sources say the bill, defeated in the previous session, will be re‑introduced in the Monsoon Session that runs from 20 July to 13 August, as the ruling NDA seeks the two‑thirds majority needed for passage. The Centre is trying to win support from opposition parties, notably the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, whose votes could be decisive.

The DMK, while previously opposing the delimitation proposal, has softened its stance and said it will decide after examining the revised text. The party has also moved adjournment motions in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to force a debate on Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu dam, warning that the project threatens Tamil Nadu’s water security and the livelihoods of millions of farmers.

Political realignments ahead of the session include a split in the Trinamool Congress, with 20 rebel MPs joining the newly formed Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) and aligning with the NDA, and six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs joining the Eknath Shinde faction. These changes could alter seating arrangements and boost the ruling coalition’s vote count, while the NDA has renamed its parliamentary meetings “Mangal Milan”.