Delimitation row: Rohit Pawar flags women’s quota link; Opposition questions non-implementation

Mumbai: The debate over the women’s reservation bill has intensified after Opposition leaders accused the Centre of delaying its implementation by linking it to a proposed delimitation exercise.

While the bill aims to reserve 33 per cent seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, critics argue it is being used as a political tool rather than being enforced immediately, raising fresh questions over timing, intent and its recent defeat in Parliament.

Rohit Pawar questions link between bill and delimitation

NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar on Tuesday alleged that the Union government is using the women’s reservation bill as a cover to push a delimitation exercise aimed at increasing the number of Members of Parliament.

Addressing a press conference, Pawar said that the bill, widely supported in 2023, was now being used as a “precursor” to a larger political plan.

"Why does the BJP want to go for delimitation? They have no other issues to raise, which is why they are pursuing this. Women are being used as bait," he said.

Allegation of ‘unscientific’ increase in seats

Pawar claimed that the proposed delimitation exercise was an attempt to expand parliamentary seats without a clear or scientific basis.

"This time, the BJP planned to push a delimitation exercise to pave the way for increasing the number of MPs," he said.

"There was an attempt to increase the number of MPs unscientifically, but the Opposition thwarted the move, and the government had to face defeat in the voting," he added.

The Opposition leader also raised concerns about the timing of the move, suggesting it could be linked to electoral strategy.

He said the way the issue was brought up in Parliament indicated that the government might be considering advancing the general elections scheduled for 2029.

Baramati crash probe also raised

Pawar also questioned the progress of the investigation into the Baramati plane crash in which former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and four others were killed.

"Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will address voters in Baramati during the day. People of Baramati want to know when the state government will hand over the air crash case to the CBI? Why is the pace of the probe slow, and why has no action been initiated against aviation firm, VSR Ventures founder V K Singh?" he said.

Varsha Gaikwad demands immediate implementation

Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad also criticised the delay in implementing the women’s reservation.

"Our clear stand is that 33 percent reservation for women must be implemented right now," she said.

She pointed out that if the bill passed in 2023 had been implemented earlier, there would already be significantly higher representation of women in Parliament.

Referring to the delay, she added that the government was using the bill as a shield instead of enforcing it.

Gaikwad also raised concerns about broader issues affecting women, including delays in approving state-level legislation and unequal allocation of funds.

"Isn't this discrimination against women, when ruling party corporators in Mumbai are given funds of crores of rupees while opposition corporators including women receive only a fraction of that amount?" she asked.

On crimes against women, she said, "Big statements are made, but how many powerful people have actually faced action?"

Bill fails to pass in Lok Sabha

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which proposed 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies from 2029, failed to pass in the Lower House on April 17.

The bill received 298 votes in favour and 230 against, falling short of the two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendments.

Opposition parties have argued that linking the bill to delimitation could impact representation, particularly for southern states.

The BJP has accused Opposition parties of blocking women’s representation, while Opposition leaders maintain that the government is delaying implementation by tying it to delimitation.

The issue remains a key point of political debate, with both sides presenting contrasting views on the intent and timing of the legislation.

(With PTI inputs)