Delaying Women’s Reservation Serves No One

The government’s decision to issue a set of Frequently Asked Questions on the women’s reservation bills is a welcome step toward transparency. It effectively addresses the unfounded narratives put forward by the opposition. By clearly explaining the rationale behind the proposed constitutional amendment, delimitation changes, and seat expansion, the government has demolished the myth that these measures were designed for political advantage. The truth is simple: the government wants to deliver 33 per cent reservation for women at the earliest possible opportunity. The opposition’s claim that the government was trying to carry out delimitation based on the 2011 census for political gain collapses under factual scrutiny. No changes were proposed to the Delimitation Commission Act. The existing legal framework remains intact, and any recommendations of the commission would require parliamentary approval and presidential assent. Ongoing elections in states like Tamil Nadu and West Bengal would not be affected, as elections up to 2029 will be conducted under the current system. The fear of political manipulation is entirely baseless. The core objective of these bills is to ensure that women do not have to wait indefinitely for their rightful representation. The ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, passed unanimously in 2023, provides that reservation will be implemented based on delimitation after the Census conducted post-2026. Had the government waited for the Census and subsequent delimitation, women would not have benefited even in the 2029 general elections. The decision to delink implementation from this condition is not a political manoeuvre but a practical necessity. The proposal to increase Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 850 is based on a proportional expansion approach that treats all states uniformly. Southern states, which the opposition claimed would be disadvantaged, would actually see their seats increase proportionally. Tamil Nadu’s seats would rise from 39 to 59, Karnataka’s from 28 to 42, and Kerala’s from 20 to 30. There is no reduction, no disadvantage, and no political targeting. The government has done its duty by introducing these progressive bills. The opposition must now set aside baseless fears and support legislation that will transform the political landscape for women. Delaying women’s reservation serves no one except those who benefit from the status quo.