New Delhi: Opposition parties on Tuesday said they will vote against the constitutional amendment on delimitation that proposes to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to 850, calling it a “dangerous” move that could reduce the share of southern, north-western, north-eastern and smaller states. congress leader Rahul Gandhi Termed it as an “anti-national act”. The parties also questioned the government’s intentions behind the proposed Delimitation Commission, citing “politically motivated” and “communal” discrimination in Assam and Jammu and Kashmir, and termed the panel as a weapon in the hands of the ruling BJP.The opposition demanded that the Modi government immediately implement 33% women’s reservation in legislatures on the basis of 543 seats in the current Lok Sabha, following Article 334(A) passed unanimously in 2023. The provision says the quota will be operationalized after delimitation based on the 2027 census. Opposition leaders, who argued that census data would be available by then and delimitation within the existing 543 seats, could be completed before the 2029 general elections, criticized the government’s proposal to rely on the 2011 census.The India Bloc along with AAP held a meeting at the residence of Congress chief Kharge on Wednesday to finalize a joint stand on the proposed bills including delimitation and women’s reservation. The participants included SP, DMK, TMC, Shiv Sena, NCP, National Conference, RSP, CPI-ML, IUML, CPM and CPI, while Hemant Soren and Uddhav joined from afar.Surrounded by leaders including TR Baalu, Omar Abdullah, NK Premchandran, Supriya Sule, Ramashankar Rajbhar, Sagarika Ghosh, Tejashwi Yadav, Sanjay Raut, Sanjay Singh, Annie Raja, Naseer Hussain and Jairam Ramesh, Kharge said, “We are in favor of women’s reservation, but delimitation is a politically motivated move to trap and suppress opposition parties.” Congress MP KC Venugopal said, “We will definitely vote against delimitation.”“Sources said Rahul Gandhi stressed that all MPs should be present during voting. TMC’s Ghosh reportedly said that some members may be busy campaigning in West Bengal, but several leaders, including Rahul, argued that their absence would effectively help the BJP. DMK’s Baalu ​​is understood to have said that his party is reducing election campaigning in Tamil Nadu to ensure presence. Thackeray said he would talk to Mamata Banerjee to ensure full participation, while parties like Congress, DMK, SP, Shiv Sena and NCP are expected to be present in large numbers.DMK chief MK Stalin said, “Black flags will be hoisted from homes and public places on April 16 against delimitation across Tamil Nadu. Every South Indian south of the Vindhyas is seething with anger. The BJP is playing with fire.”The leaders cautioned that the BJP may attempt to portray the opposition as anti-women’s reservation, and said they would make clear their support for reservations. Senior lawyer and MP Kapil Sibal warned that delimitation could give the BJP a two-thirds majority in the future, which would make constitutional changes possible.