Srinagar: The Central Government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is considering a substantial increase in the number of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats across all states and Union Territories as it moves forward with plans to implement political reservation for women ahead of the 2029 general elections.
If this proposal is approved, it could significantly alter the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir. Officials state that they are deliberating on a plan to increase the total number of members in legislative assemblies by up to 50 percent. In Jammu and Kashmir, this would result in the number of Assembly seats rising from 90 to 135. Representation in the Lok Sabha could increase from the current five seats to seven or eight seats.
Under this proposal, 33 percent of the seats would be reserved for women. This implies that approximately 45 seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly would be reserved. Regarding the Lok Sabha, if the total number of seats increases to seven, two seats could be reserved; if the count reaches eight, three seats could be reserved.
The Central Government has initiated efforts to build a political consensus regarding this proposal. Consultations are currently underway with various political parties, including members of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. However, the National Conference has stated that it has not yet been approached. Chaudhary Mohammad Ramzan, the party’s Rajya Sabha MP, confirmed that no discussions have taken place with them. He noted that this issue was discussed during a meeting of the Opposition’s I.N.D.I.A. alliance. Leaders participating in the meeting demanded an all-party discussion on the matter. “They want the Central Government to convene a meeting and provide detailed information regarding the proposed legislation,” Ramzan said.
If this proposal is enacted into law, it could be applicable to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections scheduled for 2029. The tenure of the current Assembly is set to expire on November 3, 2029. Following the enactment of the law, the Central Government is expected to constitute a Delimitation Commission to redraw the boundaries of the constituencies. According to the proposal currently under discussion, the 2011 Census could be used as the basis for this exercise. Under the current legal framework, reservation for women will come into effect only after the 2027 Census is completed and a fresh delimitation exercise is carried out based on the new population figures.
