Andhra Leaders Slam Opposition Over Delimitation, Women’s Bill
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday accused opposition parties of harming national interests by defeating the Delimitation and Constitutional Amendment Bill, saying the move would weaken fair political representation.
In a post on X, Mr Naidu said the freeze on seat allocation under Article 81 would end after the first Census conducted post-2026. He warned that the redistribution of seats based purely on population could significantly reduce representation for southern, northeastern, and smaller states.
He said the NDA proposal aimed to preserve federal balance, protect the voice of smaller regions, and ensure 33 per cent reservation for women. It also sought to prevent states that performed well in development and population control from being penalised in the democratic structure.
Calling the outcome unfortunate, Mr Naidu said political interests had overridden long-term national priorities.
Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan said the opposition had blocked a historic opportunity to strengthen women’s representation in legislatures. He said rejecting the Women’s Reservation Bill showed a lack of commitment to democratic reforms, inclusive governance, and gender justice.
TDP national working president and IT Minister Nara Lokesh described the development as a betrayal of South India, the Northeast, and smaller states. He said the failure to pass the legislation meant future representation after the 2026 Census would be determined solely by population, hurting states that had fulfilled national priorities.
Former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy questioned what had been achieved by obstructing the delimitation and women’s quota Bills. He said the South would lose representation, while women’s reservation had been delayed.
BJP state president P. V. N. Madhav alleged that the Congress and its allies had stalled the Women’s Reservation Bill and created confusion over linking its implementation to the Census and delimitation process.