PUNE, MAHARASHTRA — NCP-SCP MLA Rohit Pawar has raised questions over the Centre’s approach to the Women’s Reservation Bill, alleging that the recent debate was linked more to delimitation than to women’s empowerment.
Speaking in Pune, Pawar said that the Women’s Reservation Bill had already been passed in 2023, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had at the time thanked both ruling and opposition parties for supporting the legislation.
He questioned the need to revisit the issue, asking why a bill that had already been passed required further discussion and amendments. According to him, the renewed focus raised concerns about the government’s intentions.
Pawar alleged that the real objective behind the recent developments was linked to delimitation, which involves redrawing constituency boundaries and potentially increasing the number of seats. He claimed that such changes could influence electoral outcomes.
Referring to examples like Jammu and Kashmir and Assam, Pawar argued that delimitation had previously impacted the political landscape, suggesting that it could lead to a higher number of representatives from a particular party.
He stated that the opposition collectively opposed the move because they viewed it as an attempt to alter the electoral structure, rather than purely advancing women’s representation.
Pawar подчеркнул that the focus should remain on implementing women’s reservation in a clear and straightforward manner, without linking it to other political or structural changes that could create controversy.
His remarks come amid a broader political debate following the failure of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, with both the ruling alliance and opposition offering contrasting explanations for the outcome.
While the government has accused opposition parties of blocking a key reform for women, leaders like Pawar have argued that the inclusion of delimitation-related provisions created mistrust and led to resistance.
Political observers note that the discussion has increasingly centred on the intersection of electoral reforms and representation, with differing views on how such changes should be implemented.
Rohit Pawar’s statement reflects the opposition’s position that concerns over delimitation played a major role in the bill’s rejection, while reiterating support for women’s reservation in principle.
