Ramesh calls for immediate talks on women’s quota, accuses Centre of ‘hidden’ delimit
Ramesh calls for immediate talks on women’s quota, accuses Centre of ‘hidden’ delimitation agenda
M.U.H
28/04/202636
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday called for an all-party meeting to chart the implementation of the women’s reservation law, while alleging that the Centre’s attempt to push through a “dangerous” delimitation exercise had been thwarted by Opposition unity.
In a post on X, Ramesh said that with the election campaign now over, the government should heed the Opposition’s long-standing demand for consultations on the rollout of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023.
“Now that the government’s crafty attempt to forcibly implement a ‘dangerous’ delimitation of the Lok Sabha has been decisively thwarted due to the unity and collective stand of the Opposition, the time has come for the Prime Minister to do what the Opposition has been consistently demanding… since mid-March 2026,” he said.
He urged the Prime Minister to convene an all-party meeting to discuss how the law — which provides for reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies — could be implemented from 2029 with the current strength of the Lower House.
“This is possible. It is desirable. It is necessary,” Ramesh said, referring to the feasibility of operationalising the legislation without waiting for a fresh delimitation exercise.
The Congress leader also criticised the manner in which the law was notified, claiming it was done “late on the night of April 16, 2026, in what appeared to be haste.” He further alleged that the government had used the issue of women’s reservation as a cover for advancing its political agenda on delimitation.
“During the special session of Parliament, women’s reservation was never truly the issue. The real agenda at that time was delimitation, aimed at serving the Prime Minister’s political interests,” Ramesh said. He added that the Prime Minister must now “atone for using the women of India to advance his personal political agenda — and ensure they receive justice.”
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, passed during a special session of Parliament, seeks to reserve one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, but its implementation has been linked to a future delimitation exercise after the next Census.
Opposition parties have been pressing for clarity on timelines and modalities, arguing that the benefits of the legislation should not be indefinitely delayed.
