Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday criticised the government’s handling of the 33% women’s reservation plan in Parliament and state assemblies, claiming it was being used to reshape India’s electoral map rather than empower women.
He said linking the Women’s Reservation Bill with delimitation and Lok Sabha expansion was a “panic reaction” aimed at projecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as pro-women ahead of key state elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
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KEY OPPOSITION CLAIMS
- Women’s quota linked to delimitation
- Attempt to shift political balance
- Disadvantage for states with lower population growth
- Risk of reduced influence for southern and smaller states
Rahul Gandhi argued the original Women’s Reservation Bill, passed in 2023, had full support and should not be altered through new structural changes.
He further alleged that the government was resisting power-sharing with marginalised groups, including OBC communities, and attempting to “restructure India’s political map”.
His remarks came during a special parliamentary session discussing delimitation and the expansion of the Lok Sabha to nearly 850 seats.
GOVERNMENT POSITION
The Centre has maintained that delimitation based on the 2011 Census and expansion of seats is necessary to implement women’s reservation before the 2029 general election.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured that no state will lose representation under the exercise.
Opposition leaders, including Shashi Tharoor, have also questioned whether the move disproportionately benefits northern and BJP-stronghold states.
Southern leaders, including Tamil Nadu CM M. K. Stalin, have raised similar concerns over representation balance.
The debate continues as Parliament moves closer to voting on the bills.
