Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said that the party will convene an all-party meeting on April 15 to discuss the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act, reported the PTI.
He said the move comes amid concerns that the Centre has not initiated a comprehensive consultation process involving all political stakeholders.
Kharge stated that while the Congress supports the legislation, broader discussions are necessary due to its national importance. He criticised the Centre for not organising an inclusive all-party meeting, the news agency reported.
He added that the party had responded to communication from Kiren Rijiju and Narendra Modi, expressing willingness to participate in discussions if all parties are invited, according to the PTI.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha asserted that the Congress has consistently backed women`s reservation and dismissed suggestions of opposing the legislation.
“Apart from that, none of us are opposed to Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam or women`s reservation Act. We have already supported it, and it is an Act that was passed unanimously. They are simply trying to take political advantage of this,” he claimed, the news agency reported.
Support for women’s reservation
The Congress chief emphasised that the party has consistently supported the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, also known as the Women’s Reservation Act.
He dismissed claims that the party opposes the law, stating that it was passed unanimously and has long been part of the Congress agenda.
Kharge also highlighted that Sonia Gandhi had advocated for one-third reservation for women much earlier, and that similar policies have already been implemented in local governance bodies such as panchayats and municipal corporations.
Call for collective decision-making
According to Kharge, decisions of such scale require collective deliberation among all political parties. He stressed that since the law has already been passed, the focus should now be on how it will be implemented, as per the PTI.
He said the outcome of the April 15 meeting will be communicated after discussions among participating parties.
Parliament session
The development comes as Parliament’s Budget session 2026 has been extended, with a special three-day sitting scheduled from April 16 to 18.
During this period, amendments related to the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act—expected to come into effect in 2029—are likely to be discussed.