Political tensions flared in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha on Monday after the Congress chose to boycott a special Assembly session convened by the BJP government over women’s reservation, prompting sharp criticism from Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party proceeded with the session and passed a condemnation resolution, while Congress legislators held a parallel protest session outside the House.

The Congress said it stayed away because the matter proposed by the government did not fall within the legislative purview of the state Assembly. Party leaders alleged that the BJP intended to use the House to politically target the INDIA bloc over the recent defeat of the Constitution amendment bill in the Lok Sabha. Congress members argued that the special sitting was being used for political messaging rather than addressing state governance priorities.

Responding to the boycott, Chief Minister Saini accused the Congress of displaying an “anti-women” mindset by refusing to participate in a discussion linked to women’s political representation. BJP members maintained that the issue was of national importance and deserved the Assembly’s support. The government said the resolution was aimed at condemning parties that opposed efforts to provide greater representation to women in legislative bodies.

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The controversy follows the defeat of a constitution amendment bill in the Lok Sabha earlier this month. The proposed legislation sought to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislative bodies from 2029 and increase the number of seats in the Lower House. Congress and other opposition parties had voted against the bill, alleging that the centre's broader objective was to carry out delimitation before conducting a caste census. The developments have added another layer of confrontation between the BJP and opposition parties ahead of future electoral contests.

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