India to increase parliamentary seats for women as part of delimitation process

Government Introduces Bills to Implement 33 Percent Women Reservation Law Amid Parliamentary Constituency Redrawing Efforts

The Indian government has introduced three bills during a special parliamentary session aimed at implementing the 2023 law requiring 33 percent of parliament and state assembly seats to be reserved for women. The laws also include provisions for redrawing parliamentary constituencies based on the 2011 census.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the government is taking “historic steps” to empower women, while Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju emphasized unity in giving rightful positions to women in India. Several Asian countries have similar quotas for women in national legislatures, and India already mandates one-third of seats be set aside for women in local governing bodies.

However, opposition parties have raised concerns over the proposed redrawing of parliamentary boundaries, warning it could alter the political balance in favor of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. Critics argue that expanding parliament seats would benefit the BJP, which draws support from densely populated northern regions. Southern states, with declining birth rates, fear a population-based delimitation exercise could disadvantage their regions.

The government proposes to redraw parliamentary boundaries based on the 2011 census and implement changes for the next general election in 2029. Opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress, have expressed concerns that this approach is aimed at consolidating power rather than implementing women’s reservation.

Leaders from various opposition parties have questioned the government’s intentions, with some suggesting that delimitation is being used as a means to introduce changes “through the backdoor.” The BJP has pushed back on these criticisms, stating it will implement a uniform 50 percent increase in seats across all states and maintain proportional representation.

Source: Al Jazeera