Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced a drive to collect over 10 million signatures from women in support of the 33% reservation for women in legislative bodies.
Fadnavis called April 17 a 'black day for democracy' after opposition parties defeated the Constitution amendment bill to expand the size of the Lok Sabha and fast-track the reservation.
He vowed to build up pressure on the opposition to support the bill, which he claims will ensure women's reservation by 2029.
Fadnavis accused the opposition of having an anti-women mindset, citing the opposition to the Constitution amendment by Congress, Trinamool Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Nationalist Congress Party, and Shiv Sena (UBT).
A women's march will culminate in a rally in Mumbai on Tuesday, with the ruling parties undertaking campaigns individually and collectively across Maharashtra.
NCP lawmaker Supriya Sule accepted Fadnavis's challenge for a public discussion, asking him to specify the time and venue.
