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Himachal Leaders Unite for Women's Reservation Bill, Call it "Historic Step"

A rare political consensus has emerged in Himachal Pradesh with leaders from all parties backing the Centre's proposed Women's Reservation Bill. The bill, described as a "historic step," seeks to implement 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. A key part of the proposal involves increasing the total number of seats in Parliament to accommodate the reservation effectively. The Union government is set to introduce the constitutional amendment bill in Parliament on April 16.

Key Points: Himachal Leaders Back Women's Reservation Bill

  • Cross-party consensus in Himachal
  • Bill aims for 33% women's quota
  • Proposal to increase Lok Sabha seats
  • Implementation targeted before 2029 elections
2 min read

Himachal Pradesh leaders across party lines back Women's Reservation Bill, call it "historic step"

Himachal Pradesh leaders across parties support the historic Women's Reservation Bill and the move to increase Parliament seats for better female representation.

"historic step toward ensuring greater participation of women in governance - Jai Ram Thakur"

Shimla Apri, l 15

A rare political consensus has emerged in Himachal Pradesh, with leaders across party lines backing the Centre's proposed Women's Reservation Bill and the move to increase the number of seats in Parliament and state assemblies.

Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur welcomed the initiative, congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and describing the move as a "historic step" toward ensuring greater participation of women in governance.

"Discussions on women's reservation have taken place for years, but this government has taken concrete steps to implement it. We hope all political parties will extend support so that it can be enforced before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections," Thakur said.

He also urged opposition parties to clarify their stand, stating that if they support women's reservation, they should cooperate in passing the bill.

The Speaker of Himachal Pradesh Assembly, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, also endorsed the proposal, calling it a 'historic initiative.'

Speaking in Hamirpur to ANI, he said that provisions like increasing seats are essential to ensure adequate representation for women, who constitute nearly half of the country's population.

"Increasing the number of seats in Parliament and state assemblies is a significant step toward enhancing women's participation in politics. It can give a new direction to women's empowerment in the country," Pathania said.

He also said that similar efforts had been made in the past but did not succeed, and recalled key reforms such as the reduction of the voting age from 21 to 18 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The Union government is set to introduce a major constitutional amendment bill in Parliament on April 16, proposing to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from the current 543 to around 850 seats. The move is aimed at effectively implementing 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.

The proposed amendment seeks to revise Article 81 of the Constitution to restructure representation from states and Union Territories.

The emerging consensus in Himachal Pradesh is being seen as a significant boost to the broader push for women's empowerment and political inclusion at the national level.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good step, but implementation is key. They talk about 2029 elections – why the wait? If all parties agree it's historic, pass it now. Also, increasing total seats to 850 is a massive logistical and financial exercise. Hope the focus remains on empowerment, not just expanding Parliament.
S
Sarah B
As someone who has worked in gender advocacy here, this is monumental. True empowerment comes from representation. Hoping this sets a precedent for more inclusive policies in corporate boards and local governance too. Kudos to the leaders in Himachal for showing unity on this.
A
Aman W
Finally! Bahut der kar di. But a respectful criticism – reservation alone isn't enough. We need to ensure women candidates get fair tickets from parties, not just from 'safe' or 'losing' seats. The culture within politics needs to change for this to be truly effective.
K
Kavya N
My didi is a sarpanch in our village. She has done more for our community in 2 years than the previous male sarpanch did in 5. Imagine that impact at the national level! This bill can change the face of Indian democracy. 👏
V
Vikram M
Good to see consensus. Often, good bills get stuck in political blame games. If this passes, it will be one of the biggest reforms since independence. More women in power will lead to better focus on health, education, and safety issues.

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