Shiv Sena Leader Priyanka Chaturvedi Voices Disappointment Over Women's Bill Defeat
In a notable departure from her party's official position, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Friday expressed profound disappointment over the defeat of the Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha. She characterized the legislative setback as a significant blow to women across India who aspire to secure representation in Parliament and state assemblies.
Constitutional Amendment Falls Short of Required Majority
The Constitution Amendment Bill, which aimed to implement reservation for women in legislatures by 2029 and expand the strength of the Lok Sabha, failed to pass in the Lower House. While 298 Members of Parliament voted in favor of the bill, 230 opposed it. The proposed legislation fell short of the mandatory two-thirds majority, needing 352 affirmative votes out of the 528 members who participated in the crucial parliamentary session.
Reacting on social media platform X, Chaturvedi described it as a "sad day for India’s women who hoped to find representation in Parliament or assemblies." She emphasized that her personal stance on women's reservation has remained unwavering and consistent, and she pledged to continue advocating for it publicly.
"I have a stand on women’s reservation and consistently have had it and I will continue to express it. Deal with it," she wrote in a subsequent post, displaying firm resolve on the issue.
Social Media Backlash and Defiant Response
Internet users were quick to highlight the apparent contradiction between Chaturvedi's position and that of her party. Several commentators speculated that she might "soon get a Rajya Sabha seat from BJP" due to her divergent views. The Shiv Sena leader, however, refused to back down from her statements and responded with a sharp retort: "Are you drafting the invite?"
Bill Details and Party Leader's Earlier Appeal
The proposed constitutional amendment sought to increase Lok Sabha seats from the current 543 to a maximum of 850. This expansion was intended to facilitate the implementation of women's reservation ahead of the 2029 general elections, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census data.
Just one day prior to the vote, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had urged the central government to immediately implement the 2023 law providing 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Simultaneously, he called for a temporary pause on the delimitation process.
In a brief public statement, the former Maharashtra Chief Minister asserted that delimitation was not merely about the political future of any single party but concerned the broader future and democratic integrity of the entire nation.
The legislative defeat has sparked renewed debate about gender representation in Indian politics, with Chaturvedi's vocal dissent highlighting internal party differences on this critical social issue.
