Special Parliament Session Planned for Women's Quota and Delimitation Bills
The Indian government is preparing for a special parliamentary session to advance women's reservation and delimitation legislation amid ongoing opposition protests.
A special session of Parliament is expected later this month to address women's reservation and delimitation bills.
The government is negotiating with the DMK and smaller parties to secure necessary support.
A two-thirds majority is required for constitutional amendments, with the NDA currently lacking sufficient seats.
The Indian government is likely to convene a special session of Parliament later this month aimed at passing crucial bills concerning women's reservation and delimitation. This development comes amidst significant opposition protests against the Chief Election Commissioner and the government’s handling of electoral reforms.
Sources indicate that the government feels confident about its support in the House, particularly after facing a setback during the Budget session in April when the constitutional amendment bill related to women's reservation was defeated. The Modi administration is now actively engaging with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which has 22 MPs, to gain their backing following the party's recent split from the Congress.
The government is also reaching out to smaller political parties to bolster its numbers ahead of the session. The timing of the special session is being planned to avoid clashes with the upcoming 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, scheduled for October 26-27 at Parliament House. A notice is expected to be issued about a week prior to the session's commencement.
The necessity for a special majority in Parliament complicates the passage of constitutional amendments, as a two-thirds majority of members present and voting is required in both Houses. Currently, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds a majority but lacks the two-thirds threshold of approximately 360 seats in the Lok Sabha, which has a total strength of 540.
Recent shifts in party allegiance, including 20 MPs from the Trinamool Congress and six from the Shiv Sena (UBT) joining the ruling coalition, have improved the government's position. Additionally, the government anticipates support from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), contingent on the inclusion of a provision for a guaranteed 50% increase in seats for women in the proposed bills. Party leader Supriya Sule has previously expressed a willingness to negotiate if such guarantees are provided.
