The upcoming three-day Parliament session is expected to be contentious, as the government aims to pass necessary amendments for enforcing the Women’s Reservation Act, while the opposition plans to challenge the use of the 2011 Census for delimitation purposes.
Opposition parties, including AAP, RJD, and DMK, are likely to advocate for postponing the exercise until the availability of 2021 Census data. Additionally, the Samajwadi Party and RJD are anticipated to push for a “quota within quota” for OBC women under the proposed legislation.
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam Bill, passed in 2023, mandated one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. However, implementation hinges on the completion of delimitation post the 2027 Census, delaying it to 2034.
In a proactive move, the government has called for a special Parliament session from April 16-18 to pass amendments facilitating constituency redraw based on the 2011 Census, enabling the reservation to be in place for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
These amendments will also lead to an increase in Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 850, with 273 seats reserved for women. Ahead of the session, leaders from the INDIA bloc will convene to strategize at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence in Delhi.
TMC MP Derek O’Brien criticized the proposed amendments, emphasizing their focus on delimitation rather than the Women’s Reservation Act. He questioned the timing of the session, highlighting the ongoing elections in Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
The opposition, supported by AAP, is poised to challenge the government’s approach, advocating for a wait for the 2021 Census data before implementing changes. Meanwhile, the ruling NDA and allies view the session as a pivotal move to enhance women’s representation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to Kharge to support the amendments, while the TDP affirmed the attendance of all its women MPs at the session. The TDP emphasized the historic significance of the occasion and the need for a majority to clear the delimitation exercise.
In conclusion, the special session holds significance for reshaping parliamentary representation, with differing stances between the government and opposition on the approach to amend the Women’s Reservation Act.