Political Tug-of-War: Women's Reservation Bill Hits Roadblock

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah criticized the BJP-led Centre for politicizing women's reservation by linking it with delimitation. The Congress supports the reservation but opposes the delimitation aspect. A Constitution Amendment Bill proposing 33% women's reservation and increasing Lok Sabha seats was defeated, sparking internal Congress tensions.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has accused the BJP-led central government of politicizing the women's reservation bill by intertwining it with delimitation efforts. He clarified that while the Congress party supports women's reservation, it opposes the delimitation linkage proposed by the Centre.

In a significant blow to the ruling NDA, a proposed Constitution Amendment Bill to implement 33% women's reservation and increase Lok Sabha seats to 816 was defeated. The bill, which required a two-thirds majority, saw 230 members voting against it.

Amidst this political drama, Siddaramaiah faced scrutiny within his party, as some Congress MLAs accused him of being 'helpless' under pressure. Despite recent disciplinary actions against some Congress leaders, Siddaramaiah remains a pivotal figure in advocating for women's legislative inclusion.

(With inputs from agencies.)