"Delimitation will punish Punjab, reward others”: Sukhbir Badal slams Centre, backs women’s quota
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, April 15, 2026: Shiromani Akali Dal has raised strong objections to the Centre’s reported plan to redraw parliamentary constituencies based on population, alleging it would be unfair to Punjab and weaken the country’s federal balance.
In a social media post, party president Sukhbir Singh Badal said that while the party fully supports the Women’s Reservation Bill, it opposes any attempt to link it with delimitation. He argued that such a move would disadvantage Punjab, which has effectively implemented population control measures, while benefiting states with higher population growth.
Badal claimed that Punjab would see only a marginal increase in Lok Sabha seats under the proposed exercise, whereas states like Haryana could witness a sharp rise in representation.
He also expressed concern that the process could significantly boost the political weight of large Hindi heartland states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.
Calling the move a threat to India’s federal structure, the Akali Dal announced plans to lead a broader political effort in Punjab to oppose the proposal. The party, however, reiterated its continued support for women’s reservation in legislatures.