The Tripura Assembly, after a lengthy debate, has passed a motion urging the Central government to bring back the Women’s Reservation Bill, also known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. The motion, supported by ruling party members, called for consensus among all political parties to ensure one-third reservation for women in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies based on the 2011 Census.
Opposition parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Congress, opposed the motion. Chief Minister Manik Saha criticized the opposition, highlighting the importance of empowering women and addressing gender bias. He mentioned past unsuccessful attempts to pass similar bills and emphasized the need for women’s representation in legislative bodies.
The Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party members accused the opposition of hindering women’s empowerment by opposing the Women’s Reservation Bill. In response, the Leader of the Opposition, Jitendra Chaudhury, defended his party’s stance, alleging that the government was pursuing narrow political interests through the proposed amendment. The debate in the Assembly reflected contrasting views on the issue, with both sides presenting their arguments passionately.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath expressed disappointment over the failure of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which aimed to implement 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies by 2029. The Bharatiya Janata Party has initiated nationwide campaigns against opposition parties for their resistance to the Bill, marking a significant political divide on the issue.
