Kharge urges the Prime Minister to consult all parties before the new delimitation step

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. File. | Photo credit: PTI

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday (Oct 16, 2026) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the new delimitation proposals before they are tabled in Parliament.

Mr Kharge warned the government against trying to “bulldoze” the far-reaching constitutional amendment bill without adequate consultation.

“Please convene an all-party meeting to discuss your new proposals in detail before they are finalized for debate in Parliament,” he said in his letter, stressing that political parties need enough time to discuss among themselves and consult with other stakeholders.

“Please do not try again to push a far-reaching constitutional amendment through Parliament as you tried earlier and it met the fate it deserved,” added Mr. Kharge, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.

The letter comes amid speculation in political circles that the government has approached parties like the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to shore up their numbers and achieve a two-thirds majority or 362 votes in favor of the bill in the Lok Sabha.

The Congress chief pointed out the “unprecedented” delay in the adjournment of the monsoon session of Parliament, which was adjourned sine die on August 13. Both houses are yet to adjourn, 64 days after the end of the session, he said.

The leader of the opposition also recalled that he first wrote to the Prime Minister on April 11 and asked for a meeting of all parties before the government submits a draft constitutional amendment on delimitation. Instead, the bills were released late on April 14 without an all-party meeting, followed by a special session of parliament on April 16, he said.

Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge ji has just written to the Prime Minister about the unprecedented delay in adjourning the monsoon session of Parliament and whatever steps the Modi government is planning. https://t.co/r2WWcjavYo

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) October 16, 2026

The proposed amendment failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on 17 April.

Mr Kharge said he renewed his request in letters dated July 16 and August 27 and is now appealing for the fourth time.

“Mallikarjun Kharge has just written to the Prime Minister about the unprecedented delay in postponing the monsoon session of Parliament and whatever steps the Modi government may be planning,” Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said on X, sharing the letter.

Published – 16 Oct 2026 16:52 IST