Government using women's quota to shape poll narrative, it's code violation: CWC

New Delhi: The Congress Working Committee on Friday alleged that the government plan to bring a Bill in Parliament next week to delink the implementation of the Women's Reservation Act from next census and delimitation is aimed at setting a narrative for the West Bengal and Tamil Nadu elections. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the government move amounted to violation of the model code of conduct.

While the CWC meeting questioned the urgency in amending the Act that had originally linked the implementation of the women's quota to the census and delimitation exercises, the opposition party chose not to state clearly whether it would vote against the Bill. The party said it would soon convene a meeting of leaders of other opposition parties to take a common stand.



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The government, the CWC said, has not yet informed the opposition about the provisions of the proposed Bill.

Lamenting that the government rejected a written request from Congress and other opposition leaders for convening an all-party meeting to discuss the proposed Bill only after the conclusion of the ongoing assembly elections, Kharge told the CWC meeting that the Modi government is calling a meeting of Parliament for its own political gain.

"Despite our repeated requests, the government ignored our demands, simply to change the narrative and gain electoral advantage. This is a violation of the election code of conduct," he said, alleging: "However, we do not expect the Election Commission, which functions as a subordinate office of the Home Ministry, to even consider these matters."

The proposed amendments are such that they could have a serious impact on the electoral system, he said. "Therefore, after this meeting, we will discuss these issues with our opposition colleagues and formulate a collective strategy. We will move forward unitedly."

Kharge underscored the Congress' commitment to women's quota and narrated how it constantly worked to ensure women's empowerment.


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Sources said during the CWC meeting, Sonia Gandhi, who participated virtually, said the Congress "should not be seen opposing" women's quota while raising its issues.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is learnt to have said while the government would have "a strategy and game-plan" on the Bill, the Congress should nevertheless take a correct political stand on the matter.

Congress chief ministers of Telangana and Karnataka, Revantha Reddy and Siddaramaiah, learnt to have wondered whether the formula to increase the Lok Sabha seats would adversely affect Southern states.