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Tharoor Seeks Clarity on Women's Reservation Bill Draft Ahead of Parliament Session

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has called for clarity, stating the opposition has not yet seen the draft of the proposed amendments to the Women's Reservation Bill ahead of a special Parliament session. The proposed changes could delink the reservation from a pending census, using 2011 data, potentially expanding the Lok Sabha to around 816 seats with nearly 273 reserved for women. A separate Delimitation Bill is also expected, with both requiring passage as Constitutional amendments. Meanwhile, Tharoor voted in the Kerala Assembly elections, describing the contest as between the LDF and UDF.

Key Points: Tharoor Questions Women's Reservation Bill Draft Before Parliament Session

  • Opposition hasn't seen bill draft
  • Special Parliament session from April 16
  • Bill may expand Lok Sabha to ~816 seats
  • Delinking reservation from pending census
  • Requires Constitutional amendment
2 min read

"We haven't seen draft yet": Shashi Tharoor seeks clarity on Women's Reservation Bill ahead of Special Parliament Session

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor demands to see the Women's Reservation Bill draft, raising questions about Lok Sabha expansion and federal implications ahead of the special session.

"We have not seen a draft of the bill yet... We need to see the bill and understand what they are proposing. - Shashi Tharoor"

Thiruvananthapuram, April 9

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday called for clarity on the proposed amendments to the Women's Reservation Bill, stating that the opposition has not yet seen the draft ahead of the special Parliament session scheduled from April 16.

"We have not seen a draft of the bill yet. I know they are planning to call a session of the Parliament on 16th April for this. We need to see the bill and understand what they are proposing. We have to figure out the implications for federalism, the functioning of the legislature, and parliament. Will there be 800 odd, will they get to speak? All these issues need to be discussed," Tharoor told ANI.

The Congress party is set to convene a meeting of its Congress Working Committee (CWC) in Delhi on April 10 to deliberate on developments related to the Women's Reservation Bill. The move comes ahead of the Centre's plan to introduce amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Act during the upcoming three-day special session.

The proposed changes include delinking women's reservation from the pending census and delimitation exercise by using the 2011 census data. This could significantly increase the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to around 816 seats, with nearly one-third, approximately 273 seats, reserved for women.

A separate Delimitation Bill is also expected to be introduced, and both measures will require passage as Constitutional amendments. While SC/ST reservation will continue, there is no provision for OBC reservation under the current framework, and states will have limited direct involvement.

Meanwhile, Tharoor also cast his vote in the Keralam Assembly elections in Thiruvananthapuram, describing the contest as primarily between the LDF and UDF. "The BJP is not a factor here... It is a fight between an incumbent LDF govt and a challenging UDF," he said.

Polling is underway across 140 constituencies, with over 2.69 crore voters eligible to decide the fate of 883 candidates. The election is seen as a high-stakes battle between the ruling LDF and the opposition UDF, with counting scheduled for May 4.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Finally some movement on women's reservation! Using 2011 data is a smart move to implement it faster. More women in Parliament will change the discourse for the better. Hope all parties support this historic step.
A
Aman W
The article mentions no provision for OBC reservation within the women's quota. This is a major flaw. Reservation should be inclusive and ensure representation from all sections of society, not just a privileged few.
S
Sarah B
Increasing the Lok Sabha to 816 seats? That sounds incredibly unwieldy and expensive. While I support women's reservation, we must also think about the efficiency and cost of running such a large house. The devil is in the details.
K
Karthik V
Good to see Tharoor raising valid questions about federalism and state involvement. Centralizing everything is not the answer. States must have a say in such a fundamental change to our parliamentary structure.
M
Meera T
As a woman, I welcome this bill wholeheartedly! It's been pending for decades. 273 seats for women is a game-changer. Let's not get bogged down in procedural delays. Implement it now! 🙌

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