- People closely following the political fortunes of India would have noticed how every party makes grandiose announcements vis-à-vis empowering women using inducements, incentives, assurances, and promises. How many of these eventually come to fruition is anybody’s guess. One of the most promised issues of greater importance is to reserve seats for women to facilitate participation in politics and policymaking. Over the last few decades, every political party at national and regional levels has promised reservations for women. Sadly, the Women’s Reservation Bill failed to pass muster when some of the regional parties never allowed the most crucial empowering Bill to take shape as envisaged.
PC: PTI
- Of course, the two national parties the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress have never let go of an opportunity to crow about their intentions to empower women by raking up the reservation bill during crucial elections. We know how previously coalition compulsions drove the Union Government in power at the Centre back then to withdraw or allow the Bill to lapse in the absence of a majority. Even the BJP, with a clear majority in two successive Parliamentary elections, did not push ahead with the Women’s Reservation Bill soon after assuming power. Nonetheless, the BJP appears to have timed the introduction of the Bill named Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam when the ensuing general elections are due in April-May 2024.
- Thankfully, the BJP has now ensured the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in both houses of Parliament. The 128th Amendment to the Indian Constitution is set to expand women’s participation in politics and policymaking at the state and national levels. It will certainly create conditions for more women to lead and catalyze a deeper democracy, a hope expressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It will redefine the nature of political action and will make politics more truly representative. Note that the mobilizational impact of women’s reservation in electoral politics, especially in the 2024 parliamentary election, holds great promise for the ruling dispensation. And the BJP does not wish to let go of an opportunity to impress this segment.
PC: Shailesh musale
- As various electoral results show, the BJP led by PM Narendra Modi has been able to attract a large percentage of women voters. As such, the Women’s Reservation Bill, which ensures 33% reservation in parliamentary and assembly seats, is going to enhance and consolidate this support. It may bring a large number of new women voters and add substantially to the BJP’s female cadre. The moot point to ponder over here is will the reservation yield the desired results empowering the women representing Dalit, poor, and downtrodden to participate in the decision-making process in the true sense. The onus is on political parties to walk the talk and allocate tickets to women from these segments to make the Bill truly representative.
