PM seeks consensus

PM Narendra Modi on Thursday mounted a forceful pitch for political unity over the proposed implementation of 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, framing it as a historic obligation rather than a partisan contest.

- Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Speaking on the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, alongside enabling legislation on delimitation, he urged Opposition parties to rise above political calculations and support what he called a “cultural commitment” and a “national necessity.”

At the heart of the government's argument is a broader vision of inclusive governance. Modi emphasised that a "Viksit Bharat" cannot be defined solely by infrastructure or economic metrics but must include women-half the country's population-in the highest levels of decision-making. The appeal was both moral and political: denying representation, he suggested, would be tantamount to denying rights long overdue.

The Prime Minister repeatedly stressed consensus as the preferred route. He argued that the legislation should not be weighed through a political lens, warning that those opposing it could face longterm electoral consequences. Women voters, he noted, have historically not "forgiven" those who stood in the way of their political empowerment.