"If Chanakya had been alive, he would have been shocked by your cunningness," Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi quipped while taking a swipe at Amit Shah during the Women's Reservation Act debate. A shrewd politician herself, Priyanka laid bare the NDA's game plan. She argued that by linking women's reservation to the controversial delimitation exercise, the NDA created a Catch-22 situation for the opposition. But, the opposition was equally adept, raising the caste census bogey to skirt the BJP's trap of branding it as "anti-women" if the bill failed to go through.
To implement the Women's Reservation Act as early as 2029, the government tabled three bills, including a Delimitation Bill to redraw parliamentary constituencies based on the 2011 Census data. The opposition was quick to question the delimitation linkage. It framed the move as the BJP's attempt to use the women's reservation issue to redraw the political map in their favour for the 2029 polls.
It made the path for the opposition thorny. Priyanka saw through this, suggesting that the BJP created a pincer movement - either support the bills as per its terms or risk being seen as opposing women's rights. With women voters wielding considerable influence on elections, alienating them will have several pitfalls. Elections are already being held in four states and one UT.
OPPOSITION RAISES CASTE BOGEY
Thus, the opposition unveiled a trump card of its own - caste census. The Women's Reservation Bill became a battle of "rajnaitik kutilta" (political shrewdness).
From Priyanka to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, the opposition was united on one aspect - a separate provision for OBC quota in the legislation. The 2011 Census, based on which the government proposed the delimitation exercise, did not have caste enumeration. It was included in the 2026 Census exercise after a gap of almost seven decades.
The opposition demanded that the delimitation exercise be based on the 2026 Census data. However, in the same breath, it repeatedly hammered home the point that it was not opposed to women's reservation in Parliament and state assemblies.
"As long as the caste enumeration doesn't happen, all sections of society will not get proper representation," Priyanka said.
"By making the 2011 Census the basis for delimitation, PM Modi is attempting to snatch the rights of the OBC community. However, the Congress party will never allow this to happen," the Wayanad MP further said.
At the same time, she reminded the Parliament that the Congress was steadfast in its support for the Women's Reservation Bill when it was passed in 2023. It was seemingly a bid to counter the BJP's narrative that it was the sole champion of women's reservation.
She concluded her speech by sending a stern warning. "Any woman will tell you that women can instantly identify men who repeatedly try to mislead them," Priyanka said.
PDA POSTER BOY LEADS CHARGE
Before Priyanka, it was Akhilesh Yadav who led the caste charge. In his usual inimitable style, interspersed with punches, Akhilesh accused the BJP of reducing "nari" (women) to a mere "nara" (slogan) by trying to push through the legislation without ensuring representation for women from backward communities.
The poster boy of PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, and Alpsankhyak) was swift in calling out the BJP "conspiracy" behind its haste in getting the amendments passed.
"There is an ulterior motive. The BJP is scared of the caste census. If a census were to be conducted, the BJP would be compelled to release caste-based data and, consequently, implement caste-based reservations," Akhilesh said.
Thus, by vehemently raising the caste factor and demand for OBC quota within the women's reservation, the opposition tried to avoid being seen as opposing a pro-women measure.
The caste plank had the ruling party scurrying for a counter. Home Minister Amit Shah, while not directly addressing the issue, argued that misinformation was being spread that there was no mention of caste.
The opposition gave ample hints that, in all likelihood, it would vote against the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill to amend the Women's Reservation Act. Being a constitutional amendment bill, it would require a two-thirds majority to be cleared.
The BJP, with 293 MPs, knows very well that without support from the opposition, it would be impossible to get it passed. In the present scenario, with 540 MPs in the Lok Sabha, at least 360 votes are needed in favour of the legislation. It seems highly unlikely that 67 opposition MPs would break ranks to back the ruling party.
PM MODI THROWS A DARE TO OPPOSITION
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an astute and shrewd politician himself, was very well aware of it. It was the reason why he turned the issue into a dare for the opposition - kill the bill and risk facing the ire of women voters.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, PM Modi said the women of the country would not just watch the "nirnay" (decision) but also the "neeyat" (intent) of the MPs. He harped that any "ill-intention" would not be forgiven by the women, and cited history to buttress his point. You can read about it here.
"It is very obvious that if you oppose this bill, then I will get political benefits from it. However, if we walk together, nobody will benefit from it," PM Modi emphasised.
As the debate went on till late night on Thursday, the BJP sensed there was little hope in the 2026 bill, along with the amendments, clearing the Lok Sabha. Thus, it hastily notified the 2023 Women's Reservation Act.
Congress MP Manish Tewari explained the reason behind it in an interview with The Indian Express. "If a Bill that is contingent on the passage of another Bill in the House fails, then the original Bill or Act also become infructuous," Tewari said.
Simply, the move was likely based on the government's apprehension that the constitution amendment bills would fail to clear the Lok Sabha.
However, the broader battle in Parliament was that of perception. The BJP sought to position itself as a champion of women's empowerment as it pushed through the quota and delimitation bills. But the opposition was equally shrewd. It raised the caste census bogey to counter the BJP and potentially avoid its "anti-women" trap.
