The Congress has intensified its attack on the central government over the delay in implementing the women’s reservation law, questioning why its rollout has been linked to the census and delimitation process.
The legislation was passed by Parliament and received presidential assent in September 2023, but the party alleged that it has remained unimplemented for more than two and a half years.
Congress leaders argued that linking the implementation of women’s reservation to a future census and delimitation exercise could significantly delay the introduction of the quota. The party claimed the current process could push implementation beyond 2034.
At a recent meeting, Congress passed a resolution demanding the immediate notification and implementation of the law. The party called for the existing strength of the Lok Sabha to remain frozen at 543 seats and for one-third of those seats to be reserved for women without waiting for further delimitation.
The women’s reservation law provides for reserving one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women. However, its implementation is tied to the completion of a census and a subsequent delimitation exercise under the existing legal framework.
The issue has become a fresh point of political confrontation, with Congress accusing the government of delaying a measure that was passed with broad parliamentary support.
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