The Central Government has reiterated that the total number of Assembly seats in Telangana or for that matter in any Assembly cannot be increased till at least 2026 under the existing provisions of the Constitution.
In a written reply to a question by MP T.G. Venkatesh, the Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said that besides it would require amendment to Article 170 of the Constitution.
Both the newly formed States are in favour of increasing the number of seats in their respective State Assemblies and have represented to the Centre on the issue.
In fact the Home Ministry had had sought the opinion of the Law Ministry on whether Section 26 (1) of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 could be implemented by amending Section 26 of the Act itself without any amendment to Article 170 of the Constitution.
The Attorney General, when asked for his opinion on the issue, had maintained that it was not possible under the existing provisions of the Constitution.
The Minister said that there is no proposal under its consideration for increasing the number of Assembly seats in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
They wanted to know whether the Ministry had taken the opinion of the Attorney General on the issue.
The Minister responded saying the Attorney General was also consulted regarding whether the amendment “notwithstanding the provisions contained in Article 170 of the Constitution of India” in place of “subject to the provisions contained in Article 170 of the Constitution” was sustainable and the reply was negative.
