21 April,2026 04:29 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
Pankaja Munde. File Pic
Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Opposition parties, accusing them of committing a "grave mistake" by opposing the women's reservation bill in Parliament. She said the move had deprived women of their rightful role in policymaking and called it a missed national opportunity, reported PTI.
Addressing a press conference at the Bharatiya Janata Party's Thane unit office, Munde said the failure to pass the legislation reflected a lack of political will to ensure gender equality in governance, reported PTI.
She alleged that by blocking the bill, Opposition parties had denied women equal participation in legislative processes. According to her, women across the country would not forget what she described as a historic setback.
Munde argued that the issue goes beyond party politics and concerns the broader question of justice and representation for women.
Emphasising the need for structural reform, Munde said reservation for women should be viewed as a matter of right rather than a concession, reported PTI.
She stated that women have consistently demonstrated competence, capability, and leadership across sectors, yet continue to face systemic barriers in accessing decision-making roles, reported PTI.
"Women have long been denied opportunities despite equal merit and contribution. Ensuring representation is about correcting this imbalance," she said.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 - which proposed 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies - failed to pass in the Lok Sabha on April 17.
During voting, 298 members supported the bill while 230 opposed it. However, constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority of members present and voting, resulting in the bill falling short of the threshold.
The proposed legislation aimed to implement reservations beginning with the 2029 general elections.
Opposition parties had opposed the bill, citing concerns related to the proposed delimitation exercise. They argued that linking reservation to delimitation could potentially reduce the representation of southern states in Parliament.
This contention became a key point of disagreement, ultimately contributing to the bill's failure to pass.
Munde described the outcome as a setback for inclusive governance, stating that greater representation of women would have strengthened democratic processes, reported PTI.
She maintained that increasing women's participation in legislative bodies is essential for more balanced and effective policymaking.
"The country has lost an important opportunity to empower women politically and ensure their voices are heard at the highest levels," she said, reiterating her party's commitment to pushing for greater representation in the future, reported PTI.
(With inputs from PTI)
