Supriya Sule clarifies NCP stance on Delimitation Bill, calls NDA support talks 'baseless'
Supriya Sule has called all talks of her party supporting the Centre's Delimitation Bill "baseless," shutting down speculation of a switch to the NDA
NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Supriya Sule has refuted reports that her party will support the Delimitation Bill 2026, labeling such claims as baseless and stemming from unverified sources, despite speculation fueled by a reported midnight meeting between faction leaders and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Sule clarified that the NCP (SP) has not officially engaged with any media outlets regarding the bill and that any official stance will be communicated through party channels, while also hinting at the possibility of supporting the bill if significant amendments are made, specifically mentioning a written assurance for a 50 percent increase in seats and addressing concerns raised by southern states about population-based delimitation. She detailed a proposal discussed with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, which suggested increasing the number of parliamentary seats by 50 percent from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, with provisions for SC-ST communities and women's reservation, exemplified by Maharashtra's potential increase from 48 to 72 seats. Despite these discussions about the bill, Sule emphatically stated that the NCP (SP) remains committed to the INDIA alliance and has no intention of switching allegiances.
NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Supriya Sule has refuted reports that her party will support the Delimitation Bill 2026, labeling such claims as baseless and stemming from unverified sources, despite speculation fueled by a reported midnight meeting between faction leaders and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Sule clarified that the NCP (SP) has not officially engaged with any media outlets regarding the bill and that any official stance will be communicated through party channels, while also hinting at the possibility of supporting the bill if significant amendments are made, specifically mentioning a written assurance for a 50 percent increase in seats and addressing concerns raised by southern states about population-based delimitation. She detailed a proposal discussed with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, which suggested increasing the number of parliamentary seats by 50 percent from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, with provisions for SC-ST communities and women's reservation, exemplified by Maharashtra's potential increase from 48 to 72 seats. Despite these discussions about the bill, Sule emphatically stated that the NCP (SP) remains committed to the INDIA alliance and has no intention of switching allegiances.
NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Supriya Sule has refuted reports that her party will support the Delimitation Bill 2026, labeling such claims as baseless and stemming from unverified sources, despite speculation fueled by a reported midnight meeting between faction leaders and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Sule clarified that the NCP (SP) has not officially engaged with any media outlets regarding the bill and that any official stance will be communicated through party channels, while also hinting at the possibility of supporting the bill if significant amendments are made, specifically mentioning a written assurance for a 50 percent increase in seats and addressing concerns raised by southern states about population-based delimitation. She detailed a proposal discussed with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, which suggested increasing the number of parliamentary seats by 50 percent from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, with provisions for SC-ST communities and women's reservation, exemplified by Maharashtra's potential increase from 48 to 72 seats. Despite these discussions about the bill, Sule emphatically stated that the NCP (SP) remains committed to the INDIA alliance and has no intention of switching allegiances.
NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Supriya Sule, MP, on Wednesday, broke the silence about reports that the party could support the NDA in the Delimitation Bill, 2026, calling “all the talks baseless”.
“All the talks that NCP (SP) will support the Constituency Reorganisation Bill (Delimitation Bill) to be introduced in Parliament by the Central Government in the upcoming monsoon session are baseless. We have not received any new deal regarding this bill. If such a proposal is received, we will study it and present our position within 24 hours,” she told reporters.
Her clarification came amid reports of a midnight meeting between NCP (SP) leader Jayanth Patil and NCP Ajit Pawar faction leader Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s official residence Varsha. The meeting also triggered speculations that the NCP (SP) faction could join the NDA and would support the Delimitation Bill.
“Since this morning, some things have come out in a responsible newspaper and some media outlets. The NCP (SP) has not officially spoken to any channel or newspaper. Whatever position we take will come only through the official sources of the party,” Sule added.
Interestingly, Sule did not rule out supporting the bill either, hinting that the party may support the bill if the government makes major amendments to it.
"Give the 50 per cent condition in writing, then we will discuss it," Sule said at a press conference.
“After the Women’s Reservation Bill was unanimously passed in Parliament, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had called me, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) MP Arvind Sawant and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi for a discussion on the Delimitation Bill. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also present at that time. The southern states feel that if the constituency is reorganised based on population, it will be unfair. Therefore, the southern states had made it clear that they were opposed to the bill. This is completely right. Therefore, can the delimitation formula be changed? We asked. On this, Kiren Rijiju proposed that 50 per cent of the seats in every state from Kashmir to Kanyakumari be increased,” Sule said.
Sule gave the example of Maharashtra. “Maharashtra has 48 seats in Parliament. If we increase it by 50 percent, it will increase by 24 seats. That is, 72 representatives will be elected to Parliament from Maharashtra. Out of the 72 MPs, three seats will have to be given to the SC-ST community. By giving 33 per cent reservation to women, 48 seats will go to the open category,” she explained.
Sule, however, ruled out any switch to the NDA, declaring that her party remains firmly with the INDIA alliance. "There are several rumours about us. All information is source-driven. Our party is being maligned. There is no question of us going anywhere. We are in the INDIA alliance," Sule insisted.