New Delhi, Nov 2026 : The Winter session of Parliament is likely to commence in the first week of December, with the Union government considering the possibility of bringing back the unprorogued Monsoon Session for an extended or special sitting to take up key legislative business, according to reliable sources.
The government is expected to prioritise a proposed constitutional amendment Bill linking women's reservation with delimitation. The legislation aims to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha to accommodate the 33 per cent reservation for women.
The Monsoon Session was adjourned sine die on August 13, 2026, but was not prorogued, leaving the government with the option of extending or reconvening it at short notice. An extended sitting of the existing session requires a minimum notice of two days, while convening a fresh session requires at least 14 days' notice.
The proposed constitutional amendment will need the support of a two-thirds majority of members present and voting. Based on the current strength of 540 sitting MPs, the required number is 361 votes. With the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) having around 320 members, the government will need the support of some Opposition parties to secure the Bill's passage.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has maintained that the proposed Delimitation Bill, 2026, will not disadvantage southern states and would instead benefit them. He has said that under the proposed 50 per cent increase model, the Lok Sabha's strength would rise from 543 to 816 seats, increasing representation for all southern states.
According to Shah, the existing 129 Lok Sabha seats held by southern states would increase to 195, while their share in the total strength of the House would remain almost unchanged at around 24 per cent. The government is expected to use these figures to address concerns and build support for the legislation.
Meanwhile, senior leaders anticipate a stormy Winter Session, with the possibility of repeated disruptions. The Opposition has intensified its campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The Congress, Left parties and the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress are pressing for the CEC's removal, alleging concerns over the manner in which the revision exercise has been conducted. The issue is likely to become a major flashpoint during the session.
