Mumbai, Apr 17 (PTI) Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Friday alleged that the Centre attempted to introduce a delimitation exercise under the guise of women’s reservation, but the move was “defeated” in the Lok Sabha due to the united stand of the Opposition.
The government was trying to bring changes to the Constitution, democratic framework and electoral structure through a delimitation-related proposal linked to women’s reservation, he said in a statement.
Parliament had already passed the legislation providing 33 per cent reservation for women in 2023, and the Congress wants it to be implemented without delay, Sapkal said.
“The Congress supports the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, but would oppose any attempt to bring in changes that could harm the constitutional framework or federal system,” he said.
Accusing the government of intentionally delaying the rollout, Sapkal alleged the Centre had linked the implementation of the quota to the Census, thereby postponing its enforcement.
“While the Census process is currently underway, the government attempted to hastily introduce a delimitation proposal without waiting for the data. This could impact the federal structure. Opposition parties collectively opposed the move and ensured that it did not go through. This is a victory of democracy,” he said.
A Constitution Amendment Bill to implement reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of seats of the Lok Sabha was defeated on Friday in the Lower House.
While 298 members voted in support of the Bill, 230 MPs voted against it. Out of 528 members who voted, the Bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority.
According to the Constitution Amendment Bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased to a maximum of 850 from the current 543 to “operationalise” the women’s reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census. PTI MR BNM
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