Belagavi: The Government of India is set to introduce the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, along with the Delimitation Bill, 2026, during a special session of Parliament commencing April 16, 2026, to implement the women’s reservation quota by the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. The proposed legislation is expected to increase the total number of seats by nearly 50%, aiming to ensure more equitable representation across states ahead of the 2029 elections. The legislation proposes a nearly 50% expansion of the Lok Sabha, increasing its strength from the current 543 seats to a maximum of 850 (815 from states, 35 from UTs). The expansion is designed to facilitate the 33% (Narishakti Vandan Adhiniyam) women’s reservation from 2029, with 273 seats projected to be reserved for women in the new 850-seat House.
Against this backdrop, Belagavi district is likely to see a significant boost in political representation. Karnataka’s Lok Sabha seats are projected to rise from 28 to around 42, while the Assembly strength may increase from 224 to nearly 336.
Belagavi Impact
For Belagavi district, which currently has two Lok Sabha constituencies — Belagavi Lok Sabha constituency and Chikkodi Lok Sabha constituency — the number could increase to three seats after delimitation.
The district presently has 18 Assembly constituencies, and this number is expected to rise to around 26–27 seats, in line with the statewide expansion.
Likely Changes
Early indications suggest that boundary realignments may include:
- Redistribution of segments such as Khanapur and Kittur
- Possible creation of a third Lok Sabha constituency within Belagavi district
- Internal division of existing Assembly segments to balance population
While the final blueprint will be prepared by the Delimitation Commission, the revised electoral map is expected to be implemented before the 2029 general elections.
The exercise aims to align representation with population changes after decades, though it has also sparked debate across states. For Belagavi, the key takeaway is clear — increased representation and a significantly reshaped political landscape in the years ahead.