Government Moves to Implement Women's Reservation with Constitutional Amendments
The Indian government is preparing to introduce at least two significant bills, including constitutional amendments, during the current Parliament session. This initiative aims to roll out a one-third reservation for women in the next Lok Sabha elections and subsequent state assembly polls. The move is poised to reshape the nation's political landscape and reinforce Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to women's empowerment, especially as campaigns for four state assemblies gain momentum.
Expansion of Lok Sabha Seats and Political Dynamics
If the government succeeds, the number of Lok Sabha seats will increase by 50%, rising from the current 543 to 816. This expansion will allocate 273 additional seats exclusively for women, ensuring that existing political dynamics and incumbent parliamentarians, who are predominantly male, are not displaced as the new order takes effect. Consequently, the majority mark in the Lok Sabha will shift to 409. This marks the first increase in Lok Sabha strength in over five decades, while the Rajya Sabha and state legislative councils will remain unaffected.
Legislative Process and Consensus Building
The proposed legislation includes one bill on delimitation and another for a constitutional amendment, which requires a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament. Although the governing NDA lacks the necessary strength to pass the bill independently, the government is determined to push for its approval during the budget session, which concludes on April 4. If this timeline proves challenging, officials are open to convening a short session specifically dedicated to the women's quota.
Home Minister Amit Shah is spearheading efforts to garner support for the bills. On Monday, he held two crucial meetings: one with regional parties from the non-NDA bloc, including opposition groups and unaligned entities, and another with BJP allies. The women's quota law, initially piloted by the Modi government in 2023, had previously linked implementation to delimitation following the completion of the Census. However, the government now aims to delink this provision to expedite the process.
Delimitation Strategy Based on 2011 Census
Insiders reveal that Shah emphasized the government's intention to rely on the 2011 Census for delimitation, rather than waiting for the upcoming Census data. This strategic shift is designed to ensure that the women's quota is implemented by the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, as the release of new Census data could delay the nationwide delimitation exercise. "We were informed that the government is keen to roll out the quota from elections held after March 31, 2029. If consensus-building takes longer, the budget session may be extended or reconvened after adjournment," a source familiar with the developments stated.
Under this plan, states will see a proportional increase in Lok Sabha constituencies. For instance, Uttar Pradesh's seats will rise from 80 to 120, Bihar's from 40 to 60, and Kerala's from 20 to 30. In states with odd numbers, such as Tamil Nadu with 39 seats, the delimitation commission will adjust details while maintaining similar proportional increases. This approach addresses concerns from southern states about potential reductions in parliamentary representation due to successful population control efforts compared to northern states.
Reservation for SC/STs and Implementation Details
The reserved seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) will also expand under similar provisions. The current Lok Sabha has 84 SC-reserved seats, expected to increase to 126, while ST-reserved constituencies may rise from 47 to 70. For Union Territories and states with only one or two Lok Sabha seats, constituencies will be reserved for women every third election. Additionally, seats reserved for women will remain in this category for three terms before transitioning to the open category.
Political Reactions and Opposition Demands
While 22 MPs from various parties attended the NDA meeting, representatives from the Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), BJD, and YSR Congress participated in a separate meeting with Shah. Some opposition parties, including the Congress and the Left, have called for an all-party meeting to discuss the issue. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), which often highlights West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's promotion of women in party representation, skipped the meeting. Parties like Congress and SP have advocated for an OBC quota within the women's reservation framework.
Although the NDA holds a majority in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, it will need support from other parties to achieve the two-thirds threshold required for constitutional amendments. The women's reservation bill was previously passed during a special Parliament session in September 2023, with the government celebrating it as the "Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam." However, opposition MPs and women's rights groups criticized the initial linkage to delimitation post-Census, which had created uncertainty about implementation by 2029.
