Women's Reservation and Delimitation Bills Stir Political Debate in India

Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav backs the Women's Reservation and Delimitation Bills, guaranteeing no state will lose representation. Amidst ongoing parliamentary debates, PM Narendra Modi urges political unity, while opposition voices concerns over potential impacts on southern state's representation in the Lok Sabha.

In a significant political development, Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav has expressed strong support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push for the Women's Reservation Bill and the Delimitation Bill. Yadav assured that Modi's promises are genuine, emphasizing that no state would face decreased representation due to the new legislation.

Yadav's comments come amidst parliamentary discussions on the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, which proposes 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies. While Modi calls for cross-party backing, the opposition remains apprehensive, particularly regarding the Delimitation Bill's implications on representation, especially for southern states.

As a precautionary move, the government aims to introduce the women's reservation ahead of the 2029 elections through legislative amendments. However, oppositional voices challenge the use of census data for constituency delimitation, fearing it could marginalize representation from certain regions.

(With inputs from agencies.)