Opposition Unites Against Political Moves in Women's Reservation Bill

Several opposition parties have united to vote against the delimitation provisions in a Constitution amendment bill, despite supporting women's reservation. They accuse the government of politically motivated moves and are concerned about the impact on India's democratic setup, pushing for direct implementation of women's reservation based on census data.

On Wednesday, opposition parties converged to contest the delimitation terms in a Constitution amendment bill, even as they vouched support for women's reservation in legislative bodies. The consensus among Congress and allied parties is that the bill, as proposed, is driven by political motives rather than genuine reform.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge underscored that the opposition's objection lies in the bill's implementation strategy rather than its core premise of empowering women. The meeting, comprised of leaders from several INDIA bloc parties and the Aam Aadmi Party, concluded with a joint resolve to challenge the bill in its current form.

Echoing similar sentiments, Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi emphasized their unwavering support for women's reservation. However, he criticized the government's approach, viewing it as a veiled attempt to manipulate electoral boundaries through delimitation, potentially disadvantaging certain communities and regions.

(With inputs from agencies.)