Congress accuses Centre of timing special session for electoral gain

The Indian National Congress (INC) on Friday accused the central government of convening a special session of Parliament to secure political advantage ahead of upcoming elections in key states, calling the move a violation of the model code of conduct.

Addressing a press conference, party leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that the government had delayed action on the women’s reservation law for over two years, only to revive it during the election period to claim “double credit”.

Ramesh also raised concerns over reports that the session would include legislation related to delimitation, despite no formal proposal being shared with the opposition. He warned that any proportional increase in Lok Sabha seats could disproportionately benefit larger states while disadvantaging smaller ones, particularly in the South, Northeast and West.

Citing informal inputs, he claimed that states such as Uttar Pradesh could see a significant rise in representation, while others like Kerala may witness only marginal increases. He described the potential changes as “dangerous” for federal balance.

The remarks come amid indications that Parliament will reconvene on April 16 for a brief sitting to consider key bills, including amendments linked to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023.

The proposed changes are aimed at enabling the implementation of women’s reservation in legislatures, alongside a possible expansion of Lok Sabha seats.

The Congress has argued that such decisions should not be rushed during an active election cycle. Ramesh said the party had consistently called for an all-party meeting after April 29, when polling in several states concludes, but alleged that the government chose to proceed unilaterally.

Leaders of the opposition, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, are expected to convene meetings with senior party members and other opposition groups to formulate a joint strategy in the coming days.

The issue has also triggered sharp exchanges in Parliament, with Leader of the House J P Nadda defending the government’s prerogative to decide legislative timing, while Kharge accused the ruling party of attempting to “bulldoze” contentious measures.

According to reports, the government is considering increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to over 800 seats as part of the exercise, though no official announcement has been made.

With elections underway in multiple states, including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, the proposed session is shaping up to be a fresh flashpoint between the government and the opposition.

With PTI inputs