Battle Over “Nari Shakti” Intensifies As Sunetra Pawar Targets Opposition Over Bill

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP National President Sunetra Pawar on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Opposition, accusing it of displaying an “anti-women mentality” following the reported inability of the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill on women’s reservation to pass in the Lok Sabha.

In a post on social media platform X, Pawar said the events in Parliament had exposed those who, in her words, “play politics in the name of women’s empowerment” while failing to support legislation aimed at increasing women’s representation. She described the development as a setback for women’s rights and said it reflected a lack of consensus among Opposition parties on a key reform measure.

Pawar also asserted that the proposed legislation, which seeks to provide one-third reservation for women in legislative bodies, was blocked due to political opposition rather than lack of intent from the Centre. She maintained that the fight for women’s reservation would continue, adding that “Nari Shakti” would respond to what she termed an injustice against women.

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The remarks come amid intensified political exchanges over the women’s reservation framework, with multiple parties trading accusations over delays and procedural disagreements. The issue has become a key flashpoint, particularly over concerns related to implementation timelines and the linkage of reservation to delimitation processes.

Reacting to the broader debate, Maharashtra Congress leaders criticised the ruling alliance’s stance and accused political opponents of misrepresenting the party’s position. The Congress reiterated that it supports women’s reservation but has opposed linking its implementation to delimitation based on the 2026 Census. The party has argued that the quota should be implemented immediately and independently of constituency restructuring.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Ashok Chavan defended the government’s position, stating that opposition resistance stemmed from political motives and had hindered a reform intended to benefit women across the country. He said the government had addressed concerns raised during discussions and remained committed to implementing the reservation measure.

Shiv Sena (UBT) Leader Aaditya Thackeray also weighed in, arguing that constitutional concerns and electoral restructuring issues were central to the parliamentary debate. He said opposition unity had played a role in blocking what he described as politically motivated provisions and reiterated that the women’s reservation bill had already been passed earlier, with formal notification issued in 2026.

As political parties continue to trade accusations, the issue of women’s reservation remains at the centre of a wider debate over electoral reform, constitutional amendments, and implementation timelines ahead of future elections.

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