Rejecting Political Manipulation of Women’s Reservation Bill

The recent failure of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha has sparked widespread political debate. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attempted to link the bill with a large-scale constituency delimitation exercise, claiming it would enhance women’s representation in legislative bodies. The opposition, however, has strongly criticised this approach, calling it a politically motivated maneuver that undermines the integrity of the law.

Leaders of the Indian National Congress (INC) have argued that tying women’s reservation to constituency redrawing constitutes a misuse of the legal framework. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted that the party has consistently championed women’s political participation, backing reforms including the Hindu Code Bills, workplace sexual harassment legislation, and domestic violence protections. He urged the government to implement the 33% reservation for women MPs independently of any constituency adjustments.

West Bengal MP Mahua Moitra pointed out that the Women’s Reservation Bill had already been passed and notified in 2023, accusing the BJP of turning the issue into a “political spectacle” to obscure the real challenge of women’s representation. Upper House MP Jairam Ramesh from Karnataka alleged that the government used “deceptive measures” to push the bill, prioritising political gains over genuine women’s empowerment.

The INC clarified that its objection was not to women’s representation but to the coupling of the bill with the delimitation exercise. Party leaders stressed that legal and institutional safeguards for women’s political rights must remain independent of political calculations and not be exploited to manipulate voters or constituencies. Delaying implementation by linking it to the census and delimitation process risks eroding women voters’ trust and undermining democratic integrity.

In Sikkim, the Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) similarly condemned the BJP for politicising the issue. SPCC President Gopal Chettri described the bill’s defeat as a “victory for the people” and accused the government of using women’s rights as a “decoy” to push a controversial delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census. The SPCC also highlighted the lack of sub-quotas for OBCs and insufficient safeguards for SC and ST communities, calling the bill a betrayal of marginalised groups. They criticised local political efforts to mobilise women for rallies, calling it a “drama” that undermines their dignity.

The opposition demands immediate and independent implementation of the Women’s Reservation Law, inclusion of sub-quotas for OBCs, SCs, and STs, and an end to the misuse of women in political campaigns. Only through timely and fair execution can women achieve genuine parity in India’s legislative bodies.

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