SRINAGAR, April 15, 2026 : Ahead of a crucial Parliament session, Mehbooba Mufti expressed concern over the upcoming delimitation exercise, urging that it should not be conducted in an “illogical manner.”
🔷 Delimitation Inevitable, But Must Be Fair
Speaking in Kupwara, she stated that delimitation is bound to happen in 2026–27, given the majority held by the Bharatiya Janata Party, but stressed that the process must remain fair and rational.
She criticized the 2023 delimitation in Jammu & Kashmir, alleging:
- “Illogical distribution” of constituencies
- Claims of gerrymandering
- Creation of constituencies with fewer voters in certain regions
🔷 Hope for Balanced Representation
Mehbooba Mufti expressed hope that the upcoming exercise would avoid past mistakes and ensure equitable representation across regions.
🔷 Support for Women’s Reservation
On the proposed amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, she reiterated support for:
- 33% reservation for women
- Greater participation of women in Parliament and Assemblies
🔷 Push for Youth Participation
She also encouraged youth to actively participate in:
- Panchayat elections
- Urban local body polls
Calling them the future of governance in J&K.
🔷 Key National Developments
- Proposed increase of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to ~850
- Delimitation based on latest census data
- Special Parliament session scheduled April 16–18
The remarks come amid growing political focus on representation, reservation, and electoral restructuring, which are expected to shape India’s political landscape ahead of the 2029 general elections.
