Special Parliament Session on Delimitation?

The possibility of a special Parliament session to take up the Delimitation Bill is gaining attention after the Monsoon Session was adjourned on August 13 but has not yet been prorogued. The Centre is reportedly keeping open the options of convening a special session or reconvening the existing session to consider the pending Delimitation Bill and the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill.

The issue of protecting the parliamentary representation of southern states also figured in discussions at the Southern Zonal Council meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Mahabalipuram on August 20. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay sought assurances that southern states should not lose their share of representation. Political discussions are also underway over whether concerns could ease if safeguards are provided to protect the South’s representation.