A political conflict has arisen in India over the government's proposal to link the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women’s Reservation Act) with a nationwide delimitation exercise. Opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress (INC) and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), have voiced strong objections, arguing that this linkage will disadvantage southern states that have effectively managed population growth. Sonia Gandhi, leader of the INC, criticized the move as an 'assault on the Constitution' and called for the immediate implementation of a 33% reservation for women without waiting for a census or delimitation. The DMK's Chief Minister MK Stalin described the proposal as a 'political coup' that would diminish the political weight of southern states in Parliament. Meanwhile, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) defends the proposal, stating that it aims to increase the total number of Lok Sabha seats by 50% to ensure fair representation. The government asserts that this approach will facilitate the operationalization of the women's quota by the 2029 elections, despite opposition concerns about potential delays.