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    COVER STORY                                                              APRIL 17, 2026    |  The Indian Eye                    5

            lacked institutional support, adding                                                                  reach among women voters, a cru-
            that the proposed 33 per cent res-                                                                    cial and growing electoral segment.
            ervation would encourage greater                                                                      By pushing a long-pending reform,
            participation in governance. “From                                                                    the government can claim decisive
            managing households to leading in-                                                                    leadership where  previous regimes
            stitutions, women have proven their                                                                   struggled. The bill also aligns with its
            capability in every field,” she said.                                                                 broader “Nari Shakti” narrative, re-
                                                                                                                  inforcing political messaging ahead
            Similarly, former Himachal                                                                            of elections. Additionally, it can help
                                                                                                                  consolidate support across regions
            Pradesh Congress Committee                                                                            and social groups, while putting the

            chief Pratibha Singh expressed                                                                        opposition on the defensive over past
                                                                                                                  delays in implementing women’s res-
            optimism that the bill would                                                                          ervation.
                                                                                                                      Several  countries  have  imple-
            “open doors for more women                                                                            mented reservation or quota systems
            to enter politics,” reflecting                                                                        to increase women’s representation

            a broader consensus that the                                                                          in parliament. Nations like Rwanda
                                                                                                                  lead globally, with over 60% wom-
            principle of reservation enjoys                                                                       en in its lower house due to consti-
            wide acceptance across the po-    Several countries have implemented reservation or quota systems to increase women’s repre-  tutional quotas. Countries such as
                                                                                                                  Nepal and Bangladesh also mandate
            litical spectrum.                                        sentation in parliament (ANI)                reserved seats for women. Others
                                                                                                                  like France and Mexico use gender
                However, beneath this agree-  will require significant coordination,   seats in the Lok Sabha and state as-  parity laws requiring parties to field
            ment lies a sharper political contest   making the bill not just a political   semblies for women. The bill lapsed   equal numbers of women candidates.
            over  credit,  timing,  and  execution.   challenge but also an administrative   multiple times due to lack of consen-  These mechanisms have helped im-
            Opposition parties have historically   one.                         sus, particularly over demands for   prove representation, though their
            supported  women’s  reservation  but   The  stakes  are  therefore  sub-quotas for OBC women. It was   effectiveness varies depending on en-
            have also accused successive govern-  multi-layered. For the government,   passed in the Rajya Sabha in 2010   forcement, political will, and broader
            ments of failing to implement it effec-  the bill offers a chance to cement   under the UPA government but nev-  social conditions.
            tively. Now, as the BJP moves aggres-  its image as a champion of women’s   er cleared the Lok Sabha. After years   Beyond party politics, however,
            sively to operationalize the bill, critics   empowerment while expanding its   of political deadlock, the bill was re-  the bill represents a structural shift in
            argue that the timing—amid elector-  electoral base. For the opposition,   vived and passed as the Nari Shakti   India’s democratic framework. Ad-
            al cycles and outreach campaigns—  it is an opportunity to challenge the   Vandan Adhiniyam in 2023, marking   vocates argue that increasing wom-
            suggests   political  calculation.  narrative, question implementation,   a major breakthrough in women’s   en’s representation will lead to more
                The government, for its part, re-  and reclaim political space on an   political representation.  balanced policymaking, particularly
            jects such claims, emphasizing that   issue where it has historically had a   The Women’s Reservation Bill   in areas such as education, health,
            the bill reflects a long-standing com-  strong footing. The Women’s Res-  can  significantly  benefit  the  gov-  and social welfare. Mamta Mokta,
            mitment to gender equality. BJP MP   ervation Bill in India has a long and   ernment led by Narendra Modi by   a member of the Himachal Pradesh
            Jagdambika Pal Singh described it as   contentious history. First introduced   strengthening its image as a cham-  Public Service Commission, said
            a  “historic  shift”  that  would  ensure   in 1996 during the United Front gov-  pion of women’s empowerment. It   that when “half the population par-
            that “50% of the country’s popula-  ernment, it sought to reserve 33% of   allows  the  BJP  to  expand  its  out-  ticipates actively, it strengthens the
            tion… secures a 33% share in partic-                                                                  roots of democracy.”
            ipation across all spheres.” He linked                                                                    This broader consensus on the
            the initiative to the broader vision of                                                               importance of representation con-
            a “Viksit Bharat,” arguing that inclu-                                                                trasts sharply with the intensity of
            sive governance is essential for na-                                                                  the political contest, underscoring
            tional development.                                                                                   a familiar pattern in Indian politics
                Yet, the opposition’s critique is                                                                 where agreement on principle coex-
            not limited to intent alone. Questions                                                                ists with conflict over ownership and
            remain over the timeline of imple-                                                                    execution.
            mentation, particularly Athawale’s                                                                        As  Parliament prepares for the
            indication that the expanded seat                                                                     special session, the battle lines are
            structure and reservation framework                                                                   clearly  drawn.  The  government  is
            would take effect after the 2029 Lok                                                                  framing the Women’s Reservation
            Sabha elections. This delayed rollout                                                                 Bill as a historic milestone, while the
            has raised concerns about whether                                                                     opposition is scrutinizing its rollout
            the reform will deliver immediate                                                                     and intent. What is at stake is not just
            political empowerment or remain a                                                                     a piece of legislation, but the political
            deferred promise.                                                                                     narrative around who truly champi-
                At the same time, the scale of                                                                    ons women’s empowerment in India.
            the proposed changes—expanding                                                                            In that sense, the outcome of this
            Parliament to 816 seats—introduc-                                                                     debate will resonate far beyond the
            es logistical and constitutional com-                                                                 walls of Parliament, shaping both the
            plexities. Redrawing constituencies,   As the BJP moves aggressively to operationalize the bill, critics argue that the timing—amid   future of gender representation and
            ensuring equitable distribution, and    electoral cycles and outreach campaigns—suggests political calculation (ANI)  the contours of political competition
            managing the transition across states                                                                 in the years ahead.

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