New Delhi: The political landscape of India has intensified following the collapse of the Women’s Reservation Amendment Bill and the Delimitation Bill in Parliament. While the BJP has taken to the streets to brand the Congress and other opposition parties as "anti-women," the Congress has launched a fierce counter-attack to flip the narrative.
Congress Sounds the Battle Cry from Uttarakhand
On Thursday, the Uttarakhand Congress Committee staged a massive protest outside the State Assembly, signaling a shift in strategy. Led by former Chief Minister Harish Rawat and PCC President Ganesh Godiyal, the party demanded the "immediate implementation" of the 33% women’s reservation. Congress leaders leveled serious allegations against the BJP, accusing the ruling party of intentionally delaying the reservation by tying it to the complex and controversial process of 'Delimitation' (redrawing of constituency boundaries).
The ‘Conspiracy’ vs. ‘Credit’ Row
The central government’s objective was to implement 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies by 2029. However, this was conditional upon the completion of a fresh census and delimitation, which includes a proposal to increase Lok Sabha seats to 816. Since the bill failed to clear the Lok Sabha, both parties are now engaged in a high-stakes blame game:
The BJP’s Stance: The ruling party argues that the rights of women have been stalled solely due to the non-cooperation of the opposition. They are portraying the INDIA bloc as an obstacle to women's empowerment.
The Congress’s Defense: Congress argues that the government is "betraying" women by using delimitation as an excuse. Their demand is clear: implement the reservation immediately within the existing seat structure without waiting for boundary changes.
The INDIA Bloc’s Strategic Pivot
Following a high-level meeting chaired by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, the INDIA bloc leaders formulated a unified response to the BJP's onslaught. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify the party’s position: "Our stand has been consistent since September 2023, through June 2024, and remains the same in April 2026. Separate the Women's Reservation from Delimitation and implement it right now."
The South Indian Concern
Hidden beneath the reservation debate is a significant demographic fear. Opposition parties argue that the delimitation process—based on population—will disproportionately increase Lok Sabha seats in North Indian states while reducing the political clout of South Indian states that successfully implemented population control. The opposition claims the BJP is using women's reservation as a "Trojan horse" to redraw the political map of India to its advantage.
The Road Ahead
As the BJP attempts to consolidate the "women’s vote bank," the Congress is trying to corner the government by demanding instant action. With both sides refusing to budge, this political chess match is set to be a deciding factor in the upcoming electoral battles.