India's ongoing budget session is set to get an extension, but the government and the Opposition are yet to reach a consensus on the possible schedule.
The government might consider reconvening the two Houses between April 16 and 18 to pass amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam or the women reservation bill, which entails one-third reservation of seats for women in state assemblies and the Lok Sabha.
The government might push amendments for faster implementation of the landmark law for women's quota ahead of the assembly elections in West Bengal, where the ruling Trinamool enjoys widespread support from women voters.
The Opposition, however, wants the session extension to take place in May, after the assembly polls are over.
"Any extension or special session should happen only after the elections are over. In the middle of the election, parties and leaders would be busy campaigning. Also, there is no harm in passing the amendments next month," said a senior Congress leader, requesting anonymity.
The government needs the Opposition's support to pass the amendments, which require a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
HT earlier reported that the government was working to introduce bills delinking reservation of seats for women in legislatures from the census and the delimitation process, with an amendment to the effect likely to be introduced.
The move could see the number of seats in the Lok Sabha increase to 816.
Of this, 273 will be reserved for women, and the proportional representation of each state will remain the same.
Several Opposition parties suggested immediate implementation of the law when it was passed in 2023.
The number 816 is close to the 814.5 figure that can be arrived at by increasing the number of seats in the Lok Sabha, currently at 543, by a third.
Proportional representation means, for instance, that Uttar Pradesh, with 80 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha (14.73%), will have 120 seats in the new Lok Sabha; and Tamil Nadu, with 39 seats (7.18%), will have 59.
Reports of the changes have triggered protests in southern India, including in TN which goes to the polls on April 23.
Assam and Kerala vote on April 9. The results for the four states and Puducherry will be out on May 4.
The senior Congress leader said that the government had reached out to some Opposition parties regarding the schedule for the budget session extension.
The budget session will end on Thursday but the government has the option not to prorogue it and adjourn sine die to reconvene later.
Both parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government had discussed the possible passage of the women reservation bill amendments with all parties.
On March 26, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Rijiju, reiterating the demand for an all-party meeting.
"It appears that the Government is now planning a further amendment to the Constitution Amendment passed in September 2023. All Opposition parties now reiterate their demand for an all-party meeting to discuss the proposed Constitution amendment... The all-party meeting should be held after the current round of assembly elections is completed on April 29, 2026," he said.
