Guwahati, April 16: A sharp political confrontation unfolded in Parliament on April 16 after Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi questioned the Centre’s decision to link the implementation of women’s reservation with the census and delimitation exercise, alleging a departure from its earlier stance.
Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Gogoi said the government had previously indicated that both the census and delimitation would be undertaken after 2024, but was now tying them directly to the rollout of the reservation policy. While reiterating the Congress party’s support for women’s reservation, he criticised the continued delay in conducting the national census.
Responding on behalf of the government, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal maintained that the framework for women’s reservation, passed in 2023, could only be implemented after the completion of the census followed by delimitation, describing it as part of a constitutional process.
Meghwal outlined that the proposal envisages expanding the strength of the Lok Sabha to 815 seats, with 272 seats reserved for women. He asserted that the delimitation exercise would not reduce representation for any state and that existing seat allocations would be protected.
The ongoing three-day sitting of Parliament from April 16 to 18 has seen the introduction of key legislations, including the Women’s Reservation Bill, the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, and the Delimitation Bill, setting the stage for a high-stakes debate.
With the ruling National Democratic Alliance holding 292 seats against the Opposition’s 233, the requirement of a two-thirds majority has intensified political calculations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the move as a “historic step” towards women’s empowerment, while Opposition parties argued that linking reservation to delimitation could carry wider political implications.
The disagreement has also triggered protests beyond Parliament. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has led demonstrations opposing the delimitation provisions, while members of the INDIA bloc staged protests inside Parliament during the proceedings.
