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Meghalaya CM Backs Women's Quota & Delimitation as "Need of the Hour"

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has expressed support for the Women's Reservation Bill and the delimitation process, stating both must proceed together. His comments follow a heated Lok Sabha debate on bills to increase the House's strength, which opposition MPs argue could reduce southern states' representation. Union Minister Amit Shah presented data asserting that southern states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu would see their number of MPs increase without a loss in their percentage share of the House. The opposition, including Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, has urged for the women's quota to be implemented on the current 543 seats.

Key Points: Meghalaya CM Supports Women's Reservation & Delimitation Bill

  • CM supports Women's Reservation Bill
  • Delimitation called urgent
  • Debate on Lok Sabha seat increase to 850
  • Amit Shah assures South's representation
  • Opposition raises concerns over democracy
3 min read

"Delimitation is the need of the hour": Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma

CM Conrad Sangma says delimitation and women's reservation must go hand in hand, amid Lok Sabha debate on seat increase and southern states' representation.

"Delimitation is the need of the hour. It must be done. - Conrad Sangma"

Shillong, April 17

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has extended support to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam and the Constitution Bill, calling the delimitation process a "need of the hour."

Addressing a press conference in Shillong on Thursday, the Chief Minister said both women's reservation in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures and the delimitation process need to go "hand in hand."

Sangma said, "Delimitation is the need of the hour. It must be done. To implement the Women's Reservation Bill when it is passed, we will be looking at the details of how it will be implemented. Both need to go hand in hand."

Meghalaya currently has two seats in the Lok Sabha, out of 543.

This comes after a heated debate in the Lok Sabha over the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

The Opposition MPs raised concern over the constitutional amendment, to conduct the delimitation and increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha up to 850, based on the 2011 census. The opposition alleged that the proposed legislation would shrink the representation of southern states in the House.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged the Centre to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, reserving one-third seats for women in the Lok Sabha, on the basis of the current 543 seats. KC Venugopal referred to the Bills as a move to "sabotage democracy."

However, Union Minister Amit Shah assured that the representation of the southern states would not be affected by delimitation.

Presenting numbers, Shah noted, "If we listen to the entire narrative created for the South, then out of the 543 seats created by you, 129 MPs currently sit in this House, which is approximately 23.76 per cent. In the new House, 195 MPs will be sitting here, and their power will be 23.97 per cent."

Shah said Karnataka has 28 seats, and 5.15 per cent of the 543 seats in the House, and after the passage of the bill, the number of Karnataka MPs will increase from 28 to 42, and the percentage in the Lok Sabha will increase to 5.44.

"Karnataka will not suffer any loss at all. Andhra Pradesh has 25 seats, which is 4.60 per cent. After the passage of the bill, the number of MPs will increase from 25 to 38, which will be 4.65 per cent," he said.

"Tamil Nadu has 49 seats, which is 7.18 per cent. After the passage of the bill, the number of MPs will be 59, and their percentage in the new House of 816 will be 7.23 per cent. Tamil Nadu will also suffer no loss. Keralam has 20 seats, which is 3.68 per cent. After the passage of the bill, the number of MPs will be 30, and their percentage in the new House will be 3.67 per cent," he added.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
I appreciate the support for women's reservation, but I'm worried about the timing. Why link it to delimitation? It feels like one popular bill is being used to push through another controversial one. Let's implement women's quota now with the current seats. We've waited long enough.
R
Rohit P
Amit Shah's numbers are reassuring for the South. If Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are getting more seats and their percentage share is protected or even increasing, then what's the issue? We need more MPs to represent our growing population. The Lok Sabha has had 543 seats for too long.
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see a CM from a smaller state like Meghalaya (only 2 LS seats) supporting this. Maybe he sees it as a chance for the North-East to get better representation? The debate seems very focused on South vs. North, but what about the smaller states and UTs?
K
Karthik V
Using the 2011 census is the real problem. So much has changed in 13 years! We should use the most recent data possible for something as important as redrawing constituencies. Otherwise, it's not truly representative. First, conduct a proper census, then talk about delimitation.
M
Meera T
As a woman, I want to see the reservation bill implemented, full stop. But I also want fair representation for all states. If delimitation ensures that and brings more women into politics, then it's a win-win. Let's hope the process is transparent and non-partisan. 🤞

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