Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly passes resolution on 33% women’s reservation after marathon debate; Opposition walks out
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed a government resolution seeking implementation of 33% reservation for women in legislative bodies, following an over 10-hour-long debate marked by sharp exchanges between treasury and Opposition benches. The resolution was adopted in the absence of the Opposition, which staged a walkout during the proceedings.
Assembly Speaker Raman Singh later informed the House that the next monsoon session is likely to be held in the second week of July, before adjourning the proceedings.
The discussion centred on the demand to implement 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies following delimitation. Opposition members argued that the government had earlier spoken of bringing a censure motion outside the House but had now introduced a resolution for debate instead. They maintained that women’s reservation should only be implemented after a fresh census.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai defended the Centre’s move, stating that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was enacted to ensure women’s representation. He said the Opposition’s resistance on the grounds of delimitation and census was “beyond comprehension,” adding that delimitation would expand constituencies and enhance representation.
Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Rajwade said the state government is committed to completing the process and ensuring early implementation of the reservation. She accused the Opposition of consistently opposing the measure.
Leader of Opposition Charandas Mahant criticised the ruling BJP, alleging that its “patriarchal mindset” was against granting equal representation to women. He argued that if 33% reservation were implemented across 850 seats, women would get around 280 seats, which he claimed was resisted due to entrenched male dominance.
During the debate, Congress MLA Anila Bhediya termed the reservation bill an “electoral gimmick”, asserting that although the legislation was passed in 2023, it had not yet been implemented.
Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao hit back, accusing the Congress of hypocrisy and questioning its commitment to women’s rights, citing unfulfilled promises in its manifesto.
Chief Minister Sai further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had clearly articulated the intent behind the law, even offering to let the Opposition take credit for the initiative. He alleged that the Opposition was opposing the move for political reasons alone and said the public would not forgive such actions.
The Chief Minister also cited his own experience as a former MP from Raigarh, noting that large constituencies make it difficult for representatives to reach all areas. He said delimitation would reduce constituency size, improve governance, and enhance accessibility.
The session saw participation from over 500 women public representatives, underscoring the significance of the issue.
