Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has urged the Centre to hold wider consultations before introducing the proposed Delimitation Bill in Parliament. During a meeting with Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi said the government should first build broader political consensus on the legislation. According to sources, he suggested several steps that should be taken before the Bill is brought before Parliament.

The meeting took place amid the ongoing deadlock in Parliament and lasted for nearly 50 minutes. Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also attended the discussion at Rahul Gandhi's Parliament office. The Centre had reached out to the Congress to understand its stand on the proposed legislation as part of its efforts to gather support from Opposition parties.

According to sources, Rahul Gandhi told Rijiju that “more consensus is needed" before the Bill is introduced in Parliament. He also proposed that the government should organise an all-party meeting to discuss the issue. He said the draft Bill, which includes a proposal for a 50 per cent increase in Lok Sabha seats, should be shared with all political parties. He further insisted that Union Home Minister Amit Shah should hold direct discussions with the Opposition.

According to sources, Rahul Gandhi told Rijiju that more consensus is needed. He said that an all-party meeting should be held first and the draft with a 50% seat hike proposal should be circulated among all political parties. He further demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah should meet them.

The proposed Delimitation Bill has become an important political issue, with the Centre now engaging various Opposition parties to understand their views. The government has started consultations beyond the Congress in an attempt to build wider political support before moving ahead with the legislation.

The discussions between Rahul Gandhi and Kiren Rijiju came at a time when Parliament has remained largely non-functional during the ongoing Monsoon Session. Repeated protests by the Opposition have led to frequent adjournments, affecting the normal functioning of both Houses since the session began on July 20.

The Opposition has been demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah make statements in Parliament on several issues. These include the police action against students during the July 20 CJP-led protests and the alleged embezzlement of donations meant for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The Opposition has maintained that these matters require a response from the government inside Parliament.

Earlier on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several Opposition Members of Parliament held a protest march inside the Parliament complex. The leaders walked from the Gandhi statue at Prerna Sthal to Makar Dwar. During the march, they raised concerns over the police crackdown on students and highlighted other issues they have been demanding the government address during the Monsoon Session.

The continued confrontation between the government and the Opposition has affected parliamentary proceedings throughout the session. Frequent disruptions and repeated adjournments have prevented regular legislative business from taking place. With both sides standing by their positions, the deadlock has continued since the Monsoon Session began on July 20.

Against this backdrop, the Centre's outreach to the Congress over the Delimitation Bill is being seen as an effort to open dialogue with the Opposition. Rahul Gandhi's suggestions focused on expanding consultations before the legislation reaches Parliament. His demands included an all-party meeting, circulation of the draft Bill among political parties and direct discussions between Home Minister Amit Shah and Opposition leaders. The government has also started engaging other Opposition parties as it works to build broader political consensus on the proposed Bill before moving forward.