Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has expressed confidence that the Women’s Reservation Bill and the Delimitation Bill will be passed during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. Speaking to reporters in Hyderabad on Wednesday, Athawale stated that the previous Parliament session saw the defeat of Constitution amendment bills due to opposition from the Congress, Samajwadi Party, and the TMC.
However, with the NDA now holding a clear majority, Athawale believes that the Women’s Reservation Bill will be passed in the upcoming session, paving the way for women to receive reservation in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. He emphasized that delimitation, which is typically done every 30-35 years, is also necessary and will be addressed through the Delimitation Bill.
Athawale, who heads the Republican Party of India (Athawale), a BJP ally, attributed the expected passage of the bills to the support of some members of the TMC and Shiv Sena (UBT) for the NDA, as well as the DMK’s decision to part ways with the Congress. With a two-thirds majority in hand, Athawale is optimistic that both bills will be passed.
Athawale appealed to the Congress and other parties to extend their support to the passage of the bills. The Women’s Reservation Bill, which aims to implement reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha, was previously defeated in the Lower House on April 17, with 298 members voting in support and 230 MPs voting against it.
A total of 528 members voted on the bill, which required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority.
