A major political confrontation has erupted in Assam following the defeat of the Constitution Amendment Bill proposing 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures in the Lok Sabha. The setback has triggered a war of words between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Congress. The issue, which was intended to strengthen women’s representation in Indian politics, has instead become a focal point of blame and counter-blame, deepening existing political divides at both the state and national levels.
Congress Accuses BJP of Political Motives Behind Reservation and Delimitation Push
The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee chief Gaurav Gogoi launched a strong attack on the BJP, alleging that the government’s intention behind the women’s reservation proposal was not genuine empowerment but political manipulation. He claimed that the ruling party was attempting to centralise constitutional powers and use delimitation as a tool to alter the political balance among states. Gogoi argued that such strategies could reduce the influence of smaller states in national decision-making, warning that constitutional processes were being shaped to serve narrow political interests rather than democratic fairness.
Congress Leaders Question BJP’s Commitment to Women’s Empowerment
Senior Congress leader Ripun Bora also raised concerns about what he described as the BJP’s inconsistent stance on women’s empowerment. He pointed to the party’s candidate selection strategy for the upcoming 2026 Assam Assembly elections, alleging that women were not given adequate representation. According to Bora, this contradiction exposes a gap between the BJP’s public advocacy for women’s reservation and its actual political practice. He stressed that true empowerment must be reflected in consistent and meaningful participation of women in electoral politics rather than symbolic announcements.
BJP Hits Back, Calls Opposition Stand a Blow to Women’s Rights
Responding sharply, Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia accused the Congress and other opposition parties of blocking a historic opportunity for women’s empowerment. He described the defeat of the bill as a “black day” in India’s democratic history and alleged that the opposition had acted against the interests of women. Saikia claimed that parties such as Congress, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, and DMK were responsible for obstructing constitutional reform. He further asserted that women across the country would eventually respond politically to what he termed “anti-women politics,” as the debate over reservation continues to shape India’s broader political narrative.
