Pune: Though NCP (SP) working president and Baramati MP Supriya Sule has indicated that the party could support the Centre’s proposed delimitation bill if it guarantees a uniform 50% increase in parliamentary seats for all states, her nephew and party MLA from Karjat-Jamkhed, Rohit Pawar, struck a more cautious note.On the eve of Parliament’s monsoon session, Pawar urged opposition parties to carefully assess the implications of the proposed legislation, warning that the delimitation exercise could still be manipulated for political advantage despite an increase in seats.The development comes amid speculation over NCP (SP)’s future, with reports suggesting the party is in talks with the NDA and could eventually merge with the Sunetra Pawar-led NCP to join the ruling alliance. Rohit Pawar’s statement also suggests that leaders within the party may not be of the same view over the proposed delimitation bill.In a social media post on X on Sunday, Rohit said, “If parties support the bill after being swayed by these numbers, the delimitation of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies could be manipulated for political advantage, much like the ward restructuring carried out for municipal elections. Constituency boundaries could be redrawn solely to retain political power, without regard for geographical boundaries or constitutional principles.”He cited the example of Assam’s delimitation exercise in 2023, which critics claim has significantly reduced the representation of Muslims, and benefits the ruling BJP.Pawar said that BJP has since 2016, been preparing a strategy with the help of experienced former officials on how to redraw constituencies to suit its political interests. The party is only waiting for the Delimitation Bill to be passed, he said.“The ruling party may project an image of cooperation with the opposition, offer various assurances, claim to be taking the opposition into confidence, and speak of democratic values. But once the bill is passed, the opposition will be cast aside and authoritarian tendencies will re-emerge. Govt is simultaneously preparing to weaken the Constitution through the Delimitation Bill on the one hand and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise on the other. Political parties must carefully consider whether to thwart this plan or allow it to succeed by directly or indirectly supporting the bill,” the MLA said.He added that youths have resolved to bring about change and deserved the wholehearted support of political leaders. “It is for every individual to decide whether to fight or compromise. This is no longer the time to wait saying, ‘Apna Time Aayega’ (our time will come), but to believe ‘Apna Time Aa Gaya’ (our time has come),” he said.
