We will move forward unitedly with opposition on women reservation issue: Kharge at CWC meet

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said the party will work with opposition leaders on the Women’s Reservation Bill, as discussions intensify ahead of a special Parliament session starting April 16.

Senior leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi (Img: Internet)

New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday said the party will move forward in coordination with opposition parties on the issue of women’s reservation.

Speaking at a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Kharge emphasised the need for a collective approach, stating that proposed amendments to the law could significantly impact the electoral system.

Key Meeting Ahead of Parliament Session

The CWC meeting was convened to discuss developments related to the Women’s Reservation Bill ahead of a special session of Parliament scheduled from April 16.

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Senior leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were among those present.

Congress Flags Concerns Over Implementation

Kharge said the Congress had supported the Women’s Reservation Bill when it was passed in 2023 but had called for its immediate implementation. He criticised the government’s approach of linking the rollout to delimitation and census exercises.

“We do not need validation from anyone on issues concerning women and marginalised communities,” he said after the meeting.

Government Plans Amendments

The government is expected to introduce amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Act during the upcoming session. The proposed changes include using the 2011 Census data for delimitation due to delays in conducting a fresh census.

As part of the plan, Lok Sabha seats could increase significantly from 543 to around 816 with about one-third reserved for women.

Delimitation and Representation Debate

A separate delimitation bill is also likely to be introduced, which will determine the redistribution of seats based on population data. The proposed changes are expected to reshape parliamentary representation across states.

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While reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will continue, there is currently no provision for Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation in the proposed framework.

Call for Bipartisan Support

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged all political parties to support the amendment, calling for consensus on enhancing women’s representation in Parliament.

With differences over implementation timelines and methodology, the issue is expected to be a key focus during the upcoming special session.