Women's reservations are set to begin in 2029, with a proposal to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 850; the opposition has raised questions.

News Topical, Digital Desk : The central government is preparing to implement women's reservations starting with the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Major changes such as increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats and delimiting them have been proposed. However, the opposition and some states have begun raising questions on this issue.

The government has proposed increasing the total number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to a maximum of 850. This includes 815 seats for states and 35 for union territories. Of these total seats, 273, or 33 percent, will be reserved for women.

The government plans to introduce a constitutional amendment bill in a special session of Parliament on April 16, 17, and 18 to implement women's reservations starting with the 2029 general elections. Drafts of the relevant bills have been sent to lawmakers, and the Prime Minister is expected to respond to them on April 17.

Under this proposal, women's reservation would be in effect for 15 years, covering the elections of 2029, 2034, and 2039. Parliament will then decide whether to extend it. The reserved seats will vary with each election and will also include women from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Delimitation and seat increase plan

Delimitation will play a crucial role in this entire process. The government intends to determine new seats based on the 2011 census. Until now, the 1971 census had been the basis for determining seats.

A Delimitation Commission will be established, headed by a current or former Supreme Court judge. This commission will redraw all Lok Sabha seats, and its decision will be final and cannot be challenged in court. This change will also affect the Rajya Sabha and all state legislative assemblies, where the number of seats may change.

What is political controversy?

The opposition has objected to this proposal. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that while he supports women's reservations, linking them to delimitation and seat increases is not appropriate.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also opposed the seat increase, saying it could harm southern states. Kapil Sibal and Shashi Tharoor also called for a comprehensive discussion on delimitation. On behalf of the government, Kiren Rijiju said there should be no further delay in women's reservation, while Eknath Shinde advocated implementing it before 2029.

Legal process

Passing the constitutional amendment will require a special majority in both houses of Parliament. Based on current numbers, the support of at least 360 MPs in the Lok Sabha is required. Currently, the NDA has 292 MPs, while the opposition alliance has 233. Therefore, the government will have to garner the support of other parties to pass the bill.

What do the figures say?

According to media reports, Uttar Pradesh could see a maximum increase of 40 seats, taking the total to 120. Maharashtra is projected to see a rise of 72 seats and Bihar to 60.

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