The government has proposed to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 850, out of which 815 seats are proposed for states and the remaining 35 seats for Union Territories, as part of its intention to implement the Women’s Reservation Act from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
News agency ANI has shared this information on its website quoting sources. Let us tell you that at present there are 543 seats in the Lok Sabha. The government intends to introduce a Constitution Amendment Bill to implement 33 per cent reservation for women from 2029 in the Lok Sabha in a special session of Parliament on April 16, 17 and 18.
Amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, 2023 and the proposed delimitation bill will be discussed in the special meeting of the budget session.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged all political parties to support the proposed amendment bill and expressed confidence that women will get stronger representation and broader rights in legislative bodies by 2029.
“After a long wait of four decades, Parliament passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Act. This has ensured 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. All parties supported this important law. There should be no delay in the implementation of the rights that women have now got. It should be implemented now. Lok Sabha elections will be held in 2029, followed by state assembly elections. It should be implemented before 2029,” he said at an event in Dehradun. This is the desire of the nation.”
Prime Minister Modi said, “All political parties should unanimously carry forward this work related to the rights of the sisters and daughters of the country.”
Opposition parties have expressed concern over the proposed Delimitation Bill, alleging that it will limit the representation of southern states in the Lok Sabha. Opposition parties have also objected to the government’s attempt to pass the bill in a hurry before the general census.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin alleged that the central government intended to forcefully implement the constitutional amendment without properly consulting the states.
He said Tamil Nadu would launch a widespread agitation if the state’s interests were harmed or the southern states were disproportionately affected.