Delimitation within 543 seats emerges as an option after the 131st Amendment stalls

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The news

New Delhi. With the Opposition demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, The Economic Times’ analysis suggests one way out for the Centre: redraw constituencies within the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats once post-2026 Census figures are published. Delimitation means redrawing seat boundaries and shares by population. Enlarging the House needs a constitutional amendment passed by two-thirds of members present and voting in each House, and the DMK’s 22 MPs matter. Per PRS, the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill and the Delimitation Bill, 2026 were introduced on 16 April 2026; the first would raise the cap from 550 to 850 seats and delink women’s reservation from the post-census delimitation. The Delimitation Bill “was not proceeded with” after the amendment failed to secure the required majority (ET). Its Commission would include, per PRS, the State Election Commissioner of each State.

Prelims nuggets

Article 82 requires readjustment of Lok Sabha seats after each census; Article 81 caps the House at 550 elected members.
The 42nd Amendment (1976) froze inter-State seat shares on the 1971 Census; the 84th Amendment (2001) extended the freeze until figures of the first census after 2026 are published.
The 106th Amendment (2023) reserves one-third of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats for women; under Article 334A it takes effect only after the delimitation based on the first census after the Amendment.
Article 329(a) bars courts from questioning laws on delimitation or allotment of seats made under Articles 327 or 328.