PM Modi pledges 33% women’s reservation; southern seats protected
PM Modi pledges 33% women’s reservation; southern seats protected
PM Modi vows rapid push for 33% women’s reservation while ensuring southern states’ Lok Sabha representation isn’t reduced and total seats could rise.
A special three-day sitting of Parliament is set to fast-track the implementation of 33% women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced during a rally in Thiruvalla. The session, scheduled to run from April 16 to 18, aims to operationalise the women’s reservation law that was passed in 2023, with benefits flowing into the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Modi asserted that the move will be implemented over and above the existing strength of Parliament.
He stressed that no state that has effectively managed population growth would see a reduction in its representation, and that the women’s seats would be additional to the current number of MPs. In a reiteration for southern states, Modi claimed that seats in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh would be safeguarded and that the total national seat count could increase, potentially taking Lok Sabha strength to 816.
At the Kerala rally, the Prime Minister urged Opposition parties to pass the amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam unanimously, saying the government has already provided 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies. He also noted that the benefits of the legislation would begin to flow during the 2029 elections.
The government’s plan to expand Lok Sabha seats, while protecting existing representation in the south, was echoed in reports from national media, which highlighted the push to increase seats while ensuring no punitive dilution for states that have controlled population growth. Modi additionally criticized Kerala’s political rivals for alleged hostility towards the Sabarimala temple and promised action if the NDA returns to power.
In parallel, discussions have been described as urgent to smooth the passage of the bills needed to raise the number of seats to 816, signaling a broader reform agenda that aligns with the 2023 law’s objectives and the government’s commitment to gender parity in representation.
