Government says it has numbers to pass delimitation and women’s quota bills in October special session

Government gearing up for October special session

The Union government is preparing to convene a special sitting of Parliament later this month, sources say, with the aim of passing two flagship constitutional amendment bills – the delimitation bill and the women’s reservation bill. The move follows the conclusion of the monsoon session on 13 August, which has not yet been formally prorogued, giving the Centre a procedural window to call the extra session.

Numbers that could tip the balance

While the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds a comfortable majority in the Lok Sabha, it still needs a two‑thirds majority – roughly 360 of the 540 seats – to amend the Constitution. According to the sources, the government’s position has been bolstered by the recent defection of 20 Trinamool Congress (TMC) members and six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs to the ruling side. Those shifts bring the pro‑government camp closer to the super‑majority threshold, though the exact count has not been disclosed.

Courting regional partners

The centre is reportedly in active talks with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and a handful of smaller opposition parties to lock in their support before the vote. The outreach follows the DMK’s split from the INDIA bloc after the Tamil Nadu elections, and officials hope the party’s backing could seal the numbers required for passage.

Why the timing matters

The special session is being scheduled with the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in mind, which will be held at Samvidhan Sadan on 26‑27 October. A week's notice is expected, according to insiders, allowing legislators to align the parliamentary calendar with the high‑profile international event.

Legislative stakes

The delimitation bill seeks to redraw electoral boundaries based on the latest census, a step seen as essential for fair representation. The women’s reservation bill proposes a 33 percent quota for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, a long‑standing demand of gender‑equality advocates. Both measures require constitutional amendment, meaning they must clear the higher voting bar in both houses.

Past hurdles and current optimism

An earlier attempt to push the same amendments during the budget session on 17 April was defeated, underscoring the political sensitivity of the proposals. Since then, the government has navigated a series of challenges – from the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls to controversies surrounding the chief election commissioner – and now appears confident it can secure the necessary support.

What’s next

If the special session materialises as expected, the bills could be put to vote before the end of October. A successful passage would mark a significant policy win for the Modi administration, reinforcing its narrative of delivering on development and inclusive governance.