Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged on Wednesday that the BJP is striving for a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha with the ultimate goal of amending the Constitution to end reservation. In an exclusive interview with PTI Videos, Ramesh claimed the ruling party first aims to push delimitation under the garb of women's reservation, which would then enable them to abolish reservation altogether.
Women's Reservation and Delimitation
Ramesh said if the government is genuinely concerned about women's reservation, it should implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam on the current strength of the Lok Sabha (543 seats) for the next general election in 2029. He accused the BJP of using women's reservation as a pretext to redraw constituencies, which could alter the political landscape and reduce representation for marginalized communities.
Defections and Political Strategy
Responding to a spate of defections in opposition parties, Ramesh attributed them to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's humiliation on April 17 in the Lok Sabha. According to Ramesh, Shah had promised Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he would secure passage of three delimitation bills but could only muster 298 votes. "Shah thought he could brazen it out and bamboozle his way through, but his bluff was called," Ramesh said.
Ramesh claimed Shah is now engaging in "todh-phod ki rajniti" (politics of breaking parties) to split the TMC and Shiv Sena (UBT) in search of a two-thirds majority. He linked this to the BJP's 2024 campaign slogan of '400 paar', arguing that the party needed such a majority to amend the Constitution and end reservation.
Evidence from BJP Leaders
Ramesh pointed to statements by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who has previously spoken against reservation, and RSS leaders who have criticized the policy. He argued that despite Prime Minister Modi's assurances, the party's actions reveal its true intent. "Delimitation is the first milestone they want to pass, but ultimately there are three years more left for this government," Ramesh said.
Congress's 2024 Campaign Validated
Ramesh said the current developments vindicate the Congress's 2024 campaign that the BJP aimed for '400 paar' to alter the Constitution. He warned that if the BJP secures a two-thirds majority, it would pose a direct threat to reservation policies that have been constitutionally enshrined to uplift Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.
