Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a special three-day sitting of Parliament from April 16 to 18 to fast-track the implementation of 33% women's reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
The move aims to increase the total number of seats in the Lower House and ensure that no state sees a drop in seats, with representation for women being over and above the current strength of Parliament.
Modi assured southern states that their representation will not reduce and that the government has invited the Opposition for a meeting to pass the amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam unanimously.
The government is working on bills to increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha to 816, with 273 seats reserved for women, and the proportional representation of each state remaining the same.
The move has been met with criticism from the Opposition, who have attacked the government over reports that it plans to expand the strength of the Lok Sabha and set up a delimitation commission.
