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politics18h ago
Modi is pushing to get more women into India's Parliament. That could have other consequences
- India’s parliament opened debate on a landmark bill to reserve one-third of seats for women in Parliament and state legislatures.
- The bill would fast-track a 2023 law mandating 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures.
- The delimitation would redraw voting boundaries using data from the 2011 census, potentially expanding seats from 543 to about 850.
- Support for adding more women to Parliament is broad, but opponents warn delimitation could tilt power toward Modi’s party.
- The bills are to be taken up during a three-day special session of Parliament and require a two-thirds majority in both houses.
- Leaders in southern states protested, with Tamil Nadu's chief minister burning a copy of the bill and urging nationwide action.
- The debate centers on how to allocate seats if Parliament expands and how this would affect state representation.
- The quota could bring hundreds more women into legislative politics, shifting policy focus to women’s health, education, and gender-based violence.
- Opponents warn that delimitation could favor northern states and disadvantage southern regions with slower population growth.
- The government says delimitation would be based on population data and reflect constitutional requirements.
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