With the Union Cabinet approving a draft amendment Bill to operationalize the Women’s Reservation Act by the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress has called the meeting of the working committee on Friday to discuss the same.
The party leaders said that the Congress Working Committee (CWC), party’s highest decision making body meeting will take place at party new headquarters Indira Bhawan at 3 p.m. on Friday to discuss the same.
The proposed amendment seeks to revise the implementation framework of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, formally known as the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, passed in 2023.
Under the proposal, the strength of the Lok Sabha is set to rise from 543 to 816 seats, following a fresh delimitation exercise.
Of the expanded House, 273 seats, around one-third will be reserved for women. The quota will be applied vertically, providing reservation for women within the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories as well.
The Congress insiders said that during the CEC meeting, party leaders will deliberate on the amendments being brought by the government in the Women’s Reservation Bill.
The party insider pointed out that the Congress appears to be taking a strong stand against the government over the proposal on including delimitation as it has not been formally communicated to them as of now.
According to Congress, it is waiting for the government’s formal proposal, but based on informal information, the party does not accept this plan of delimitation.
Under proportional increase, southern, northeastern, and northwestern states would be at a disadvantage compared to northern states.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had earlier also addressed a press conference and highlighted the same.
Some party leaders also argued the 50 per cent seat increase and cited the example of Kerala and Uttar Pradesh which currently has 20 and 80 parliamentary seats respectively.
“With delimitation, proportional increase will be visible as Kerala’s seats may rise from 20 to 30, while Uttar Pradesh’s could go from 80 to 120, increasing the gap from 60 to 90 seats,” the party insider explained.
“This delimitation issue is very harmful for South India. We do not want any change in the current arrangement. We don’t want any disturbance in the present relative strength… we don’t want any state to suffer
The Congress insider alleged that the government is trying to pass the bill hastily for electoral gains in the West Bengal elections, even as MPs from states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu would be busy campaigning.
He also claimed that all INDIA bloc parties, including the Trinamool Congrrss, are united on this issue.
He pointed out that looking at Lok Sabha numbers, the government does not have the two-thirds majority required for a constitutional amendment and will need support from the opposition as the ruling side has 293 while the opposition has 240 and others constitute 12 more seats.
The two-third majority mark is 364 in Parliament
According to sources, the opposition does not want to be seen as obstructing women’s reservation. However, it is likely to demand reservation for women from backward classes within the bill.
Thus a detailed discussion will take place in the CWC and then same would be discussed with INDIA bloc partners and a final decision is expected to be taken before April 16, after the government presents its official proposal.
