Shashi Tharoor criticises the Centre over proposed changes to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, calling them politically motivated. He urges that women’s reservation be implemented fairly without harming federal balance or parliamentary integrity.
Ahead of the upcoming special three-day session of Parliament, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday (April 11, 2026) raised concerns over the proposed amendments to the women’s reservation law, officially known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. He cautioned that the changes should not be used for political advantage in a way that weakens federal principles or harms the functioning of Parliament.
In a post on X, Tharoor alleged that the central government’s decision to call a “special session” is politically motivated. According to him, the move is aimed at gaining electoral benefits ahead of upcoming state elections and is also linked to a broader plan involving delimitation before the 2029 general elections. At the same time, he reiterated that the Congress party has consistently supported women’s reservation but believes it must be implemented in a fair and inclusive manner.
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Sharing images from the recent Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held on April 10, Tharoor highlighted the party’s historical role in supporting women’s reservation. He stated,
“While the Congress has always championed the 33% quota, and the first to introduce a Bill and pass it in the Rajya Sabha in 2013, the current government’s approach raises serious alarms.”
The CWC meeting took place just days before the special Parliament session scheduled from April 16 to 18. During this session, the government is expected to introduce key bills to operationalise the law ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Reports suggest that the number of Lok Sabha seats may be increased to 816, out of which 273 seats could be reserved for women.
Tharoor further pointed out that the Congress leadership has strongly objected to the way the amendments are being pushed forward without wider consultation. He noted that the party has raised concerns over the lack of transparency and the possible impact on the federal balance of the country.
According to him,
“The CWC condemned the government’s unilateral and opaque push for amendments without consulting Opposition parties. The party flagged that rushing a delimitation exercise alongside the bill could have dangerous consequences for the democratic balance of our states, particularly in the South and Northeast,”
he noted.
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He also drew attention to what he described as inconsistency in the government’s approach. Earlier, the implementation of the law was delayed on the grounds that it would only take place after a national Census. Now, he argued, the sudden urgency raises questions about intent.
In this context, he stated,
“Now, a ‘special session’ is being used for political mileage ahead of State polls and with an eye on delimitation before the 2029 general election.”
Reaffirming the Congress party’s stand, Tharoor emphasized that women’s reservation must not be used as a political instrument. He said,
“The Indian National Congress remains committed to one-third reservation for women, but it must be inclusive and fair. The Amendment Bill should not be a political tool that undermines federalism and vitiates the vitality of Parliament as a deliberative body,”
the Congress leader said.
Meanwhile, the Congress party has also accused the government led by Narendra Modi of politicising the issue of women’s reservation. The party argued that linking the law with delimitation raises constitutional concerns and may lead to serious consequences, especially for states in southern and northeastern India. It has demanded that such a significant exercise should be discussed thoroughly after the ongoing Assembly elections.
During the CWC meeting, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge indicated that efforts are being made to build a united opposition front on the issue. He is expected to convene a meeting of key opposition leaders around April 15 to prepare a joint strategy for the Parliament session.
The developments indicate that the upcoming special session is likely to witness intense political and legal debates, especially on issues of federalism, delimitation, and the constitutional framework governing electoral representation in India.
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