Sharad Pawar's MPs to meet PM Modi; Congress seeks women's quota, delimitation split

New Delhi: A delegation of Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) MPs is set to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a move that has triggered intense political speculation. The meeting comes at a time when the opposition INDIA bloc is trying to firm up its strategy on two contentious issues — the implementation of the Women's Reservation Act and the proposed delimitation exercise.

The Congress party has publicly urged the NCP (SP) to use the meeting to press for the immediate rollout of the Women's Reservation Act. It has also asked the Sharad Pawar-led outfit to insist that the women's quota be delinked from the delimitation process.

Congress's pitch to NCP (SP)

Sources said the Congress leadership has communicated to the NCP (SP) that the meeting with PM Modi is an opportunity to convey the united stand of the opposition on the women's quota. The Congress wants the NCP (SP) MPs to make it clear that the opposition wants the reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies to be implemented without waiting for the delimitation exercise.

The Women's Reservation Act, which was passed in 2023, provides for reserving one-third of seats for women. However, its implementation is linked to the delimitation exercise, which is expected to redraw parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on the next census. The Congress has argued that linking the two would delay the quota indefinitely.

The delimitation question

Delimitation has emerged as a politically sensitive issue, particularly for parties from southern India, which fear a loss of parliamentary seats to the more populous northern states. The NCP (SP), with its strong base in Maharashtra, is also watching the developments closely.

Rohit Pawar, a senior NCP (SP) leader, has already spoken about the uncertainty surrounding the party's stance on the delimitation bill. He said he was unsure of the party's position ahead of the bill's introduction, which has added to the speculation about a possible realignment.

Political undercurrents

The meeting with PM Modi comes amid reports of growing buzz about the NCP (SP) possibly inching closer to the NDA. The speculation has been fuelled by recent political movements in Maharashtra, including the reported joint travel of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and a key political figure.

Political observers say the meeting could be a diplomatic exercise or a signal of a deeper shift. The NCP (SP) has been a part of the opposition INDIA bloc, but its leadership has often maintained a flexible approach, keeping its options open.

Congress leaders, however, are hoping that the NCP (SP) will use the platform to reinforce the opposition's demands rather than create confusion. They argue that any dilution on the women's quota or the delimitation issue would be politically costly for the opposition.

What to watch

The meeting between the NCP (SP) MPs and PM Modi is likely to be closely watched for any statements or signals. The opposition will be keen to see if the NCP (SP) sticks to the INDIA bloc's line or strikes a different note. The coming days are likely to reveal whether this is a routine courtesy call or a prelude to a larger political realignment.