New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday issued a mandatory three-line whip to its lawmakers in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, requiring their presence for the entirety of a special three-day parliamentary session scheduled for later this week.

The directive, which covers the period from April 16 to 18, states that attendance is compulsory and clarifies that no leaves of absence will be sanctioned. The session is expected to centre on critical amendments to the Women's Reservation Bill.

“A Three-Line Whip is being issued to all BJP Members in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha from Thursday to Saturday, 16th to 18th April 2026," the party's communication stated. "All Hon'ble Union Ministers and Members are requested to remain present in the House throughout all three above-mentioned dates. Presence in the House is mandatory. No leave will be granted. Members are requested to strictly comply with the Whip and ensure their uninterrupted attendance in the House. Your cooperation is highly appreciated.”

Legislative Overhaul

The government’s primary objective for the session involves two significant modifications to the Nari Shakti Vandan Act of 2023. While the original legislation linked the implementation of women’s reservation to a fresh census and subsequent delimitation, ongoing delays in the national census have prompted a change in strategy. The administration now intends to move forward using 2011 census data.

Opposition Demands Dialogue

The announcement drew a sharp rebuke from Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kharge called for an all-party meeting, alleging that the government failed to consult the opposition before summoning the special session.

Kharge argued that the lack of transparency regarding the delimitation process makes a productive debate impossible.

“I have just received your letter on the special session of Parliament for a discussion on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam from the 16th of April...This special sitting has been called without taking us into confidence and your government is seeking our cooperation again without revealing any details on the delimitation going to be done," Kharge wrote. "You will appreciate that without details of the delimitation and other aspects, it would be impossible to have any useful discussion on this historic law.”

Timing and Transparency

The Congress leader further contested the Prime Minister’s claim of prior dialogue with political parties, noting that the opposition had requested a meeting only after the current cycle of state elections concludes on April 29.

“The calling of a special sitting during the ongoing state elections only reinforces our belief that your government is hurrying the implementation of the bill to gain political mileage rather than truly empower women,” the letter continued.

Kharge suggested that if the government’s stated goal is to "strengthen our democracy" and move forward, taking everyone along," it should reschedule the discussion until after April 29 to allow for a comprehensive review of the delimitation issues tied to the 2023 Act.

With inputs from ANI