During the ongoing Lok Sabha debate on three key legislative proposals—the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, the Delimitation Bill 2026, and the Union Territories Laws Amendment Bill 2026—BJP MP Tejasvi Surya delivered a strong and detailed speech supporting the government’s position and the implementation of women’s reservation in India. Surya described the day as historic, stating that the passage and introduction of these bills mark a transformative moment for women’s political participation in the country. He credited the Narendra Modi-led government for accelerating the implementation of the women’s reservation framework, arguing that it will ensure meaningful representation of women in policymaking starting from the 2029 electoral cycle, subject to constitutional processes like census and delimitation. He emphasized that the journey of women’s reservation has spanned nearly three decades, with repeated delays in the past, and claimed that the current government has finally enabled progress on what he called long-pending reform. He also referenced past parliamentary debates, accusing opposition parties of earlier obstructing similar legislation. A significant portion of his speech focused on defending the linkage between women’s reservation and the delimitation exercise. Surya argued that delimitation is a constitutional requirement under Articles 81 and 82 and not a discretionary political move. He rejected opposition claims that the process undermines federal balance, asserting instead that it follows established constitutional procedure. He further addressed concerns raised by southern states, stating that the government’s approach ensures fair consideration and does not disadvantage smaller or population-controlled states. According to him, the proposed framework represents a balanced solution rather than an imbalance in representation. The debate in the House remained heated, with opposition leaders alleging that the bills are politically motivated and structurally linked to broader electoral advantages. The discussion is expected to continue with further interventions from both treasury and opposition benches.


