Kohima, Apr 21 (PTI) Nagaland Lok Sabha MP and state Congress president S Supongmeren Jamir on Tuesday alleged that the BJP-led central government was using the women’s reservation issue to advance a “hidden delimitation agenda” aimed at the 2029 parliamentary elections.
Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan here, Jamir said the opposition INDIA bloc opposed the move in Parliament as the government had linked women’s reservation with delimitation despite constitutional and procedural constraints tied to census and constituency readjustment.
Referring to the 106th Constitutional Amendment enacted in 2023, Jamir said provisions under Articles 239AA, 330A and 332A already lay down the framework for women’s reservation, but the Modi government was attempting to use the issue to push delimitation, which he alleged was aimed at increasing Lok Sabha seats from 816 to 850 in a manner favourable to the BJP.
He said the amendment itself clearly linked implementation to the first census after 2026 and subsequent publication of relevant figures, making immediate delimitation impractical.
He alleged the government knowingly brought the matter despite lacking the two-thirds support required for constitutional changes, and claimed the move was intended to trap the opposition politically.
Jamir said the INDIA bloc had made it clear in Parliament that if the government was serious, it should bring a bill to ensure implementation of women’s reservation by the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. He said the opposition would continue to press the Modi government to bring such a measure during the monsoon session.
Countering Monday’s allegations by Nagaland BJP leaders that Congress opposed women’s reservation, Jamir said it was the BJP, not the opposition, that was delaying implementation while using the issue for political mileage, particularly with elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and other states.
He also questioned the BJP’s commitment to women’s empowerment, asking whether the party was willing to support women for top constitutional positions, including Prime Minister and Speaker.
On Nagaland, Jamir said delimitation and women’s reservation raised specific concerns for smaller states, including how 33 per cent reservation would be accommodated without adversely affecting political representation or creating fresh divisions.
He said Nagaland and other northeastern states, including Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Assam, also have to consider the implications in view of negotiated political settlements and seat arrangements.
He said while women’s reservation is already being implemented in urban local bodies, the state must ensure Nagaland women also receive fair representation in higher legislative institutions, including the Lok Sabha.
He appealed to all political parties, including the BJP, not to politicise the issue but to work collectively in the state’s interest.
NPCC leaders maintained that women’s reservation should not be tied to political strategy or delimitation calculations and reiterated their demand that the Centre take immediate steps to ensure implementation of the 33 per cent reservation by the 2029 parliamentary elections. PTI NBS NBS RG
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.