The Odisha Legislative Assembly has scheduled a one-day special session for April 30 to discuss the critical issue of women’s participation in Indian democracy. This move follows the recent rejection of the Constitution Amendment Bill by Opposition parties in the Lok Sabha on April 17.
The Lower House had considered the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-first Amendment) Bill, the Delimitation Bill, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill simultaneously. During the subsequent division of votes on the Constitutional Amendment Bill, the proposal received 298 votes in favour and 230 against.
In the wake of the fall of the Constitutional Amendment Bill, the NDA has launched a sharp critique of the Opposition, accusing them of hindering the proposed one-third reservation for women in legislative bodies. Within Odisha, the BJP has specifically alleged that a BJD-Congress alliance was responsible for stalling the legislation.
As part of their wider political response, the BJP has organized Jan Akrosh Padyatras in several states, condemning the Opposition’s stance.
On April 23, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi remarked, “This historic struggle is not merely a demand for women’s empowerment; it is a battle for the rights, respect, and dignity of women across the entirety of India. The voices of these women, who have taken to the streets, serve as an inspiration, a deception, and a powerful protest against the oppressors. This is not just discontent, but rather a firm resolve for justice, which will, in the days to come, illuminate the path to change and rob the oppressors of their sleep.”
Conversely, former Odisha Chief Minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik said his party’s long-standing support for women’s empowerment, while simultaneously criticizing the BJP-led central government for linking the women’s quota bill to the delimitation process. He maintained that the BJD remains firmly opposed to any reduction in the “political power” of Odisha and accused the BJP of compromising the state’s fundamental rights.
