The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly deceiving the public by labeling Opposition parties as anti-women for opposing aspects of the Constitutional Amendment Bill related to the Nari Shakti Vandan Act. The BJD claimed that despite the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, in 2023, the BJP failed to implement it during the 2024 elections. The regional party accused the BJP of organizing women-led protests nationwide, blaming the Opposition for obstructing the Bill’s implementation.
The BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sulata Deo emphasized that the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, aimed at providing 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies, was supported by all political parties in 2023. Expectations were high for its implementation in the 2024 general elections. However, Deo alleged that the BJP-led NDA government postponed the implementation, citing the need for constituency delimitation after the 2026 Census, followed by the enforcement of reservation provisions.
Deo further claimed that a special parliamentary session during the state elections aimed to pass the women’s reservation and delimitation based on the 2011 Census. Opposition parties, objecting to the proposed delimitation’s impact on states like Odisha, withheld their support. Deo accused the BJP of branding the Opposition as anti-women to shape a political narrative, despite delays in implementing the reservation. The BJD’s senior General Secretary, Dr. Lekhashree Samantasinghar, highlighted the party’s efforts in advocating for women’s reservation and empowerment, fielding women candidates in 33% of parliamentary constituencies.
