A three day special sitting of extended Budget session of Parliament will begin tomorrow. The session which will continue till 18th of this month, will primarily focus on Constitutional Amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. The government will introduce three amendment bills to pave the way for the operationalisation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which was passed in 2023, proposing 33 percent reservation of women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.

The special sitting has been convened to amend the Constitution so that the women’s reservation Act can be implemented in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections after carrying out the delimitation exercise. Few days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also written to the floor leaders of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha urging all the parties to come together in one voice to pass amendments in this regard. Mr. Modi emphasised that it is imperative that the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections are conducted with women’s reservation in place. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has also assured that Women Reservation Bill is balanced and takes care of the aspirations of every state, community and region.

Several political parties including BJP, JD(U), LJP(R) and Congress have issued three line whip to all its MPs of both the Houses to remain present during the proceedings of the House and support their party stand.

Meanwhile, Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge today said opposition parties are in favour of the Women’s Reservation Bill but expressed apprehensions about the way in which the Bill is being brought. Briefing media in New Delhi after INDIA bloc meeting, Mr Kharge claimed that the Bill is politically motivated.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said all opposition parties are completely against the provisions of delimitation. He said they will participate in the debate in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and oppose it.