New Delhi: Narendra Modi has said that increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha will benefit every state and ensure that no region loses parliamentary representation as the government moves ahead with plans to implement women’s reservation in legislatures.
Speaking at a rally in Barpeta in Assam, the Prime Minister said women have waited long enough for representation in Parliament and state assemblies. He stated that the government aims to implement the one third reservation for women by the time of the 2029 general elections.
To facilitate this reform, the government plans to increase the number of seats in Parliament and state assemblies. Modi said certain legal amendments would be required to implement the proposal, and a special session of Parliament has been convened from April 16 to deliberate on the issue.
Emphasising that women’s empowerment remains a priority for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, the Prime Minister said the participation of women in legislative bodies is essential to achieving the goal of building a developed India.
Ahead of the proposed legislation, consultations were held with several political parties by Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs. The government has urged parties across the political spectrum to support the initiative and move forward through consensus.
According to discussions surrounding the proposal, the government is considering increasing the total number of Lok Sabha seats by as much as 50 percent. The expansion is expected to create additional seats that would help implement the reservation policy while maintaining existing representation for states.
Responding to concerns raised by opposition parties that states in southern India could lose influence due to population based seat allocation, Modi said attempts were being made to spread confusion. He assured that states which have successfully controlled population growth, including those in southern India and the northeastern region, would not see their parliamentary strength reduced.
The government is expected to introduce two separate bills on the matter. One proposed constitutional amendment will outline the framework for implementing the 33 percent reservation for women, including provisions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes within that quota. A second bill will establish a delimitation commission to reorganise parliamentary constituencies as part of the process.
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