During the Stanford India Conference 2026 in California, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor criticized the proposal to increase the Lok Sabha's strength to 850 members, likening it to a 'desi version of the Chinese People's Consultative Conference'. He argued that the current composition of 543 members should not be altered without proper data from the upcoming Census, expected between 2027 and 2029. BJP leader Tejasvi Surya countered Tharoor's remarks by asserting that delimitation is a 'democratic necessity' to ensure accountability among elected representatives, especially as India's population approaches 1.4 billion. Surya pointed out that the 1971 population figures are outdated and that the current structure limits the connection between voters and their MPs. K Annamalai, former Tamil Nadu BJP chief, described the delimitation process as a 'grand bargain' between northern and southern states, suggesting that the allocation of MPs will reflect demographic changes post-Census. Tharoor also advocated for a one-third reservation for women in Parliament as a separate initiative, urging immediate action on this matter.