Sanjay Raut Says INDIA Bloc Open To Delimitation Bill Discussion With Amendments
On Thursday, July 16, 2026, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut announced in Nagpur that the opposition INDIA bloc is willing to discuss the central government's Delimitation Bill if their proposed amendments, including a 50 per cent increase in seats, are considered. The statement signals a potential shift in the opposition's stance, coming a day after the NCP(SP) hinted at a rethink on the bill.
Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Raut emphasized that any final decision on the Delimitation Bill would be taken collectively by all member parties of the INDIA bloc rather than by any single party. He stated that if the government presents a different proposal, the alliance partners will sit together to formulate a joint response.
Raut was visiting Nagpur to oversee preparations for Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray's upcoming Ram Raksha agitation, scheduled for July 18. The protest is organized over allegations of corruption in the Ram Temple Trust in Ayodhya. The party has also extended an invitation to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to participate in the event.
The political developments come amid a significant reduction in the parliamentary strength of the Shiv Sena (UBT). The party's representation in the Lok Sabha recently dropped from nine MPs to three, after six of its MPs defected to support rival Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde.
These six breakaway MPs met with Union Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Following the meeting, Shinde expressed confidence that the Delimitation Bill would pass smoothly in Parliament.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders in Maharashtra have strongly rejected any compromise on the bill. A senior Congress leader stated that the party will oppose the bill under any condition and questioned whether the NCP(SP), which holds eight Lok Sabha MPs, will remain aligned with the INDIA bloc during the voting. The Congress also expressed concerns over the future of the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, citing the reduced strength of Uddhav Thackeray's faction.
