NTT Desk
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule on Wednesday dismissed speculation that her party was preparing to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), asserting that it remained committed to the Opposition's INDIA bloc despite reports suggesting otherwise.
"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 INDIA alliance," Sule told reporters. Her remarks came amid growing political speculation that the NCP (SP) could back the Centre on the contentious delimitation legislation after the government failed to secure the required two-thirds majority to pass the Constitution Amendment Bill during the April session of Parliament.
While rejecting suggestions of a political realignment, Sule indicated that her party could consider supporting a revised version of the delimitation Bill if the government incorporated safeguards to ensure a balanced increase in parliamentary representation across all states. "Give the 50 per cent condition on paper, then we will discuss," she said.
Supriya Sule also disclosed that she had attended an all-party meeting convened by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to discuss the proposed legislation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also present at the meeting, along with leaders including Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.
According to Sule, the Centre floated a proposal that would increase the number of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats by 50 per cent across every state, a formula she suggested could address concerns over regional imbalance.
"The bill is still not with us. I can't speak on the bill unless it is with us," she said. "We'll study the bill when it comes and give our verdict. The women's reservation Bill was passed unanimously. Kiren Rijiju called me, Arvind Sawant and Asaduddin Owaisi. Amit Shah was also there. They told us that they have also spoken to the SP, Congress and DMK. They have a proposal in mind."
The NCP (SP) MP reiterated her party's long-standing concern that a delimitation exercise based solely on population figures could disproportionately benefit northern states at the expense of southern states. "A proposal for a 50 per cent formula for every state was put forward by Amit Shah and Kiren Rijiju," she added.
Her clarification came on the same day senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram alleged that the BJP was attempting to win over regional parties, including the NCP (SP) and the DMK, to secure sufficient support for the proposed 131st Constitution Amendment Bill, which the government is expected to introduce during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. "After splitting the TMC, the BJP is reportedly wooing the NCP (SP) and the DMK to garner the crucial votes to support the new version of the failed Bill," Chidambaram wrote in a post on X, urging both parties not to back the legislation.
The ruling NDA has improved its numbers in Parliament following splits within the Trinamool Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena. However, it continues to fall short of the two-thirds majority required to pass a Constitutional Amendment Bill.
Political observers have also pointed to the DMK's strained ties with the INDIA alliance following the Congress' electoral understanding with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Tamil Nadu, fuelling speculation that the Centre could seek issue-based support from the southern party on the delimitation legislation.
