The Budget Session of Parliament will restart on April 16 after a short break, and all eyes are on a set of important bills linked to women’s reservation. The government is planning to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to 816 seats to roll out the quota for women at the earliest. Sources say the session may run for about three days, with the proposed bills likely to be introduced first in the Lok Sabha.
The plan is tied to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which aims to reserve seats for women in Parliament. The government believes the time has come to implement the law and has been in touch with opposition parties to move the process forward.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said a major bill will be taken up soon, adding that discussions have already been shared with other parties.
Opposition questions timing
Opposition leaders have raised strong objections, saying the government is rushing the process during election time for political benefit. They argue that such an important decision should not be taken without wider discussion.
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said while there is support for women’s reservation, the way and timing of bringing the bill matters. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also pointed out that the government had earlier linked the law to census and delimitation, but is now trying to move ahead without them.
Heated exchanges in Rajya Sabha
The issue has already triggered sharp debate in the Rajya Sabha. Leader of the House JP Nadda defended the government, saying it has the right to decide when to bring legislation. At the same time, several opposition members demanded an all-party meeting after elections. Leaders like Sanjay Singh also accused the government of politicising the issue.
Some MPs raised broader concerns. Fauzia Khan questioned whether similar reservations would be extended to the Rajya Sabha and state legislative councils. Manoj Jha asked if there would be sub-quotas for SC, ST, and OBC women within the reserved seats.
The debate comes at a time when elections are underway in several states, including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry. The opposition claims the move could impact smaller states and should be discussed more carefully, while the government insists it is simply fulfilling its promise to women.
