Lok Sabha proceedings underway during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi. File Photo: Sansad TV/ANI Video Grab

Flagging the 10-day delay in proroguing the Lok Sabha after it was adjourned sine die on August 13, 2026 in accordance with the schedule of the monsoon session of Parliament, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh on Sunday (August 23, 2026) asked whether the “abnormal delay” was an indication of the government’s efforts to cobble together the necessary numbers to clear the Bill on delimitation.

Under normal parliamentary practice, “the time gap between the adjournment of the Lok Sabha sine die and its prorogation is generally two to four days”, Mr. Ramesh said in a post on social media platform X, although he acknowledged there have been instances when “adjournment and prorogation have taken place on the very same day”.

The time gap between the adjournment of the Lok Sabha sine die and its prorogation is generally two to four days – although there are many instances when adjournment and prorogation have taken place on the very same day.

Ten days have gone by since this Lok Sabha was adjourned… pic.twitter.com/62Sq20KdSc

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 23, 2026

The gap has occasionally run longer, including 28 days during the monsoon session of 2015, and 20 days in 2021, he said. “There were no diabolical moves afoot then,” Mr. Ramesh said, adding, “What explains the abnormal delay now? Is the Union Home Minister still in search of his bahukalakit (tarnished) 2/3rd majority to get the Constitutional Amendment Bill on Delimitation passed in a Special Session?”

Mr. Ramesh also posted a photograph of a page from Practice and Procedure of Parliament by M.N. Kaul and S.L. Shakdher, which states the President terminates a session of the House under Article 85(2) acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, and the Cabinet may be consulted before the advice is submitted. The text also notes that prorogation “may take place any time, even while the House is sitting”, but “usually… follows the adjournment of the sitting of the House sine die”.

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The manual further explains that the interval between prorogation and the House’s reassembly for a new session is termed the “inter-session period”, underscoring that prorogation, not adjournment, formally closes a session and clears the way for the next one to be convened.

Published – August 23, 2026 12:36 pm IST