BJP MP Chowta: Leadership to Discuss 1971 Census Basis for Women's Reservation
In Mangaluru, Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta addressed the ongoing debate over the 33% women's reservation in Parliament, stating that whether the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will revert to the 1971 Census for delimitation is a matter for the party's leadership to deliberate. This statement came in response to queries about potential amendments to the 2023 Bill, which currently ties the reservation to the latest census, a point of contention raised by the Congress party.
Defending BJP's Stance and Criticizing Congress
Chowta defended the BJP's position, emphasizing that the Congress had the opportunity to propose amendments during the legislative process in 2023 but failed to do so. "The latest census was the prerequisite of the Bill. They said it comes too close to elections for it to be implemented. Now, they are scared where their families and seats would go," he remarked, highlighting what he perceives as opposition fears over seat redistribution.
He dismissed the opposition's argument that South Indian states would lose representation as a "myth", asserting that the central government has committed to maintaining the percentage of seats in the new House with factual data. "The (central) govt says we will maintain the percentage of seats in the new House, with facts and figures shown," Chowta added, aiming to allay regional concerns.
Contrasting BJP and Congress on Women's Representation
Chowta also took a swipe at the Congress, suggesting that the opposition might lack sufficient women candidates and that existing members are anxious about their seats if the reservation is implemented. He contrasted this with the BJP's record, pointing to Nirmala Sitharaman's dual roles as defense and finance minister as evidence of the party's commitment to women's empowerment, while labeling Congress's history as anti-women.
Election Confidence and Delimitation Concerns
Expressing optimism for the upcoming Tamil Nadu election, Chowta noted that the BJP's success in the 2024 elections was based on Congress's delimitation framework. He warned that if delimitation occurs after the 2027 Census, South Indian states could face greater losses, but maintained that using the 2011 Census would not disadvantage them. "If the delimitation took place after the 2027 Census, the South Indian states would lose out more," he stated, underscoring the timing's importance.
Addressing Parliamentary Logistics
When questioned about how additional seats would be managed in parliamentary discussions, given that current members often struggle to speak, Chowta acknowledged the challenge but assured that technical details would be resolved. "The technicalities of that would be worked out," he said, indicating a pragmatic approach to implementation.
This discussion highlights the complex interplay of political strategy, regional representation, and gender equity in India's legislative landscape, with the BJP positioning itself as proactive on women's reservation while critiquing opposition inaction.
