The Winter Session of Parliament is likely to commence in the first week of December, news agency PTI reported on Sunday, with the possible dates being discussed at the highest levels of the government. The session is expected to centre on a Constitution amendment bill linking the implementation of women's reservation to delimitation.

Source: PTI via 7Globe

The proposed legislation seeks to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to a maximum of 850 seats through delimitation, enabling the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. This is the same bill Awaaz Punjab reported on November 12, when the Centre was weighing a special sitting to pass it; the discussion has now moved to the regular Winter Session as the vehicle.

Source: The Indian Witness

The numbers test

A Constitution amendment requires the support of at least two-thirds of members present and voting — 361 votes if all 540 sitting members vote in the current Lok Sabha, where three seats are vacant. The ruling NDA has 320 members and will need opposition support to cross the threshold. A senior government functionary, however, expressed confidence on Thursday that the legislation would clear Parliament by a margin of 15 to 18 votes. The bill had earlier failed to secure the required numbers at a special sitting on April 17.

Source: PTI via 7Globe

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said on Friday that the delimitation bill might be introduced during the Winter Session if the NDA secures a two-thirds majority, adding that if delimitation does not happen now, it will be harder to give women reservation in the 2029 elections.

Source: ANI via Devdiscourse

SIR confrontation and a 94-day record

The session is also likely to see a fresh confrontation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have stepped up their criticism of the exercise, are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and their protests could spill into the Winter Session, PTI reported. An MP from the ruling alliance said a Constitution amendment bill could not be debated and put to vote unless the House functioned in an orderly manner.

The timing has drawn added attention because the government has not prorogued the Monsoon Session, which was adjourned sine die on August 13 and has now remained unprorogued for 94 days, exceeding the previous record of 87 days set in 2008.