BJP Kohima unit slams Opposition on women’s quota amendment

BJP Kohima district unit on Wednesday slammed the Opposition for the failure of the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha, terming it “anti-women” and detrimental to democratic interests.
Addressing a press conference, BJP state executive member Vineizo Tsürho said the amendment to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam failed to secure the required two-thirds majority on April 16, 2026, with 298 members voting in favour and 230 against. He explained that although the Women’s Reservation Act was passed in 2023 and came into force on April 16, 2026, its implementation was tied to delimitation after the post-2026 Census, which risked delaying the benefits of 33% reservation for women beyond the 2029 general elections. Tsürho said the Centre had introduced three Bills—the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026—to delink reservation from delimitation and ensure timely implementation. He maintained that had the Bills been passed, women could have availed reservation in the Lok Sabha by 2029. He further highlighted the need to revise the existing cap of 550 Lok Sabha seats, fixed in 1976, in view of the population increase from 54 crore in 1971 to around 140 crore at present. He said the proposal to increase seats up to 850 was based on proportional expansion, ensuring fair representation across states and Union Territories.
Accusing the Opposition, including Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress and DMK, of obstructing women’s participation, Tsürho alleged that their stance had delayed women’s representation for decades. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had stressed that women’s representation was a matter of right, not favour, and urged parties to rise above partisan interests. He also referred to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s clarification that delimitation was essential to uphold equal representation. BJP Mahila Morcha Kohima district president Leanne Kiewhuo, also speaking at the press conference, said delimitation was a necessary and time-consuming process, taking up to two years, and was vital for implementing reservation. She reiterated that reservation policies under the Constitution were based on social and economic criteria, not religion, and emphasised that greater participation of women in legislative bodies would help address issues affecting women more effectively.
Moderated by Kohima district BJP president Khrielie Üsou, the press conference reaffirmed BJP’s commitment to women’s empowerment, balanced representation and strengthening democratic institutions.