New Delhi, Mar 25: The central government has proposed amendments to the Nari Vandan Adhiniyam 2023 to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, alongside plans to increase the total number of seats by 50 per cent based on population. The move has sparked debates across political circles, with opposition leaders questioning its timing and potential regional impact.
Under the proposed plan, the Lok Sabha would expand from 543 to 816 seats, reserving 273 seats for women. State assemblies, including Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim, would see similar adjustments on a pro rata basis. While the government emphasizes this as a step to empower women and strengthen representation, critics argue it may disproportionately benefit northern states, reducing the political influence of southern regions.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh termed the proposal a “weapon of mass diversion,” asserting that the government is prioritizing political gains over procedural fairness. He highlighted that the original law stipulated operationalization of women’s reservation only after completing delimitation and census exercises—a step the government now seeks to bypass.
The opposition has requested an all-party meeting to discuss the amendments after the upcoming assembly elections in April, warning that rushing the process could violate established parliamentary procedures. Legal experts have also pointed out potential constitutional challenges, as Section 3J of the Nari Vandan Adhiniyam 2023 initially excluded certain provisions of the Delimitation Act, raising questions about equality and proportional representation.
Parliamentary sources indicate that the government may convene a special session in the coming weeks to pass the amendments, keeping open the option to reconvene the current session after the elections. Meanwhile, political parties from southern India have expressed concerns that increasing seats based purely on population could sideline the region in national decision-making, urging careful consultation before any implementation.