Vijayawada, April 20: The Andhra Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Congress party and its allies for opposing the Women's Reservation Bill, announcing a series of NDA protest programmes across the State later this month.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP State office in Vijayawada, party State general secretary Nagotu Ramesh Naidu accused Congress and its allies — the Trinamool Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Samajwadi Party — of collectively blocking legislation that sought to ensure equal political representation for women. "They are celebrating this obstruction as though it were a great victory," he said.

Mr. Naidu recalled that the Congress-led UPA government had, during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi, enacted special legislation in the Shah Bano case overriding a Supreme Court ruling. He further noted that while Sonia Gandhi had successfully steered the Women's Reservation Bill through the Rajya Sabha, the party failed to bring it to a vote in the Lok Sabha. He accused the Congress of using Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to play what he termed a "Shikandi role" in obstructing the bill.

Asserting that delimitation must not be carried out on the basis of population ratios alone, Mr. Naidu said the BJP remained committed to reintroducing the Women's Reservation Bill and securing its passage. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working towards making women equal partners in the nation's development, and no obstacle will deter that goal," he said.

The party announced a series of protest events across Andhra Pradesh. On April 24, a demonstration will be held in Vijayawada with BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav, Minister Kandula Durgesh and TDP State president Palla Srinivasarao as chief guests. A parallel protest will be organised in Rajamahendravari under the leadership of MP Daggubati Purandeswari on the same day.

On April 25, Union Minister of State Bhupatiraju Srinivas Varma will participate in protests at Tirupati, while a separate programme is scheduled in Kurnool.

BJP NTR District president Adduri Sriram was also present at the press conference.

NEW DELHI, APRIL 16: Rajamahendravaram Lok Sabha member and BJP MP Daggubati Purandeswari on Wednesday lent her unequivocal support to the Delimitation Bill 2026 and the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill introduced in the Lower House, while allaying concerns over the potential marginalisation of southern states in a reconstituted Parliament.

Speaking during the debate on the two bills, Ms. Purandeswari sought to address the apprehension — widely expressed by Opposition members and southern political formations — that a fresh delimitation exercise would result in a net reduction of Lok Sabha seats for states that have performed better on demographic indicators.

No state will lose existing seats, she asserts

Outlining the contours of the Centre's proposal, she said the government's plan to increase the total number of Lok Sabha seats by 50 per cent would ensure that no state loses its current tally of seats. Basing the exercise on the 2011 Census data, she argued, would preserve the existing political balance while accommodating expanded representation commensurate with overall population growth.

"The voice of the southern states will remain as strong as ever in Parliament," she said, adding that the delimitation process would be participatory in nature, with public hearings providing citizens and state governments an opportunity to place their views on record before any final determination is made.

Congress indicted for "deliberate delay" on women's reservation

Turning to the women's reservation provisions embedded in the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, Ms. Purandeswari trained her guns on the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government, holding it responsible for what she described as decades of unconscionable delay on a matter of fundamental political justice.

She recalled that the Women's Reservation Bill had been pending since 1996 and that while the Rajya Sabha had passed it in 2010, the UPA government had declined to bring it before the Lok Sabha — a failure she characterised as a deliberate act of political omission. "When Prime Minister Modi is now implementing this on a war footing, it ill behoves the Opposition to obstruct it on frivolous political grounds," she said.

Women as decision-makers, not merely participants

Ms. Purandeswari argued that the reservation of seats for women in legislative bodies would effect a qualitative transformation in the nature of women's participation in public life — elevating them from stakeholders to decision-makers in the truest sense. She invoked the legacy of B.R. Ambedkar, contending that the bill was in consonance with his vision of ensuring political justice for historically underrepresented sections of society.

Concluding her address, she said it was a matter of deep personal pride to be a participant in what she called a historic moment in India's constitutional history.

Special Parliament session from April 16 to take up Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam amendments; BJP issues three-line whip

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to the floor leaders of both Houses of Parliament on Sunday, calling upon members across party lines to unite in support of amendment bills linked to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, and declared that the women's reservation quota would come into effect from the 2029 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The Central government has extended the ongoing Budget Session by three days, with a special sitting of both Houses scheduled from April 16 to 18 for the purpose.

In his letter, Mr. Modi said the time had come to implement the women's reservation law in its true spirit, and that his government had decided to fast-track the legislation after extensive consultations. He urged all Members of Parliament to participate in what he described as a historic debate beginning April 16. "If the Women's Reservation Act comes into effect from 2029, India's democratic institutions will gain new strength, public trust in them will deepen, and participation and representation in governance will increase," he wrote.

The Prime Minister recalled that reservation for women in legislatures had remained a matter of discussion for several decades, but his government had enacted the law as early as 2023. He described the day of the Bill's passage as an inspiring milestone in India's parliamentary history, witnessed by the entire world. He called upon MPs of all parties to come together in the special session and usher in historic change.

Three-Line Whip Issued

The BJP issued a three-line whip to its members in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Sunday, directing them to be present without fail for the duration of the three-day special session and not to avail any leave during the period. The party asked its MPs to strictly comply with the whip and extend full cooperation in ensuring the passage of the amendment bills.

Two Key Amendments Proposed

The government is learnt to be considering two significant amendments during the special session. The first relates to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, which currently stipulates that women's reservations can be implemented only after a fresh census and delimitation exercise — a condition that would have pushed implementation to 2034. The proposed amendment seeks to delink the law from the requirement of a fresh census, enabling reservations to be implemented on the basis of the 2011 census data from the 2029 elections onwards.

The second proposed amendment pertains to the delimitation law. Rather than carving out 33 per cent of existing seats for women — which would reduce the number of seats available to male legislators — the government is understood to be considering an expansion of the total number of seats in Parliament and State Assemblies. Reports indicate that the number of Lok Sabha constituencies could be increased from the present 543 to 816, which would result in 273 seats being reserved for women from 2029. A proportionate increase in seats in State Assemblies is also being considered on the same basis.

న్యూఢిల్లీ: ఉపరాష్ట్రపతి ఎన్నికల్లో ఎన్‌డీఏ కూటమి అభ్యర్థి సీపీ రాధాకృష్ణన్, ఇండియా కూటమి అభ్యర్థి జస్టిస్ బీ.ఎస్. సుదర్శన్ రెడ్డి పై స్పష్టమైన ఆధిక్యతతో విజయం సాధించారు.

ఈ ఎన్నిక జగదీప్ ధన్‌ఖడ్ రాజీనామాతో ఖాళీ అయిన ఉపరాష్ట్రపతి పదవిని భర్తీ చేయడానికి నిర్వహించబడింది. ఎన్‌డీఏ అభ్యర్థి సీపీ రాధాకృష్ణన్, విపక్షాల ఉమ్మడి అభ్యర్థి జస్టిస్ బీ.సుదర్శన్ రెడ్డి పోటీపడ్డారు. పోలింగ్ ప్రారంభంలో ప్రధాని నరేంద్రమోదీ, అనంతరం కేంద్రమంత్రులు ఓటు వేసి తమ భాగస్వామ్యాన్ని చూపారు. ఎంపీలకు గులాబీ రంగు బ్యాలెట్ పత్రాలు పంపిణీ చేయబడి, ప్రతి ఎంపీ తన ప్రాధాన్యత ప్రకారం ఓటు వేశాడు.

విపక్ష నేతలు కూడా తాము ఓటు హక్కును వినియోగించుకున్నారు. కాంగ్రెస్ అధ్యక్షుడు మల్లికార్జున ఖర్గే, సీనియర్ నేతలు సోనియా గాంధీ, రాహుల్ గాంధీ, ప్రియాంక గాంధీ వరుసగా ఓటు వేశారు. సమాజ్‌వాదీ పార్టీ నేత అఖిలేష్ యాదవ్ సహా ఇండీ కూటమి నేతలు కూడా పోలింగ్‌లో పాల్గొన్నారు.

పోలింగ్‌లో మొత్తం 788 సభ్యులుండగా, ఖాళీ స్థానాలను మినహాయించి 781 సభ్యులు ఓటు హక్కు కలిగారు. 12 మంది (బీఆర్‌ఎస్, బీజేడీ, శిరోమణి అకాలీదళ్) పోలింగ్‌లో పాల్గోలేదు. కాబట్టి మొత్తం 769 మంది ఎంపీలు ఓటు వేశారు. విజయం కోసం 391 ఓట్లు కావలసిన ఈ ఎన్నికలో, అధికార ఎన్‌డీఏకు 425 మంది సభ్యుల మద్దతు ఉండడంతో గెలుపు ఖాయం అయింది. వైసీపీకి చెందిన 11 మంది సభ్యులు కూడా ఎన్‌డీఏ అభ్యర్థికి మద్దతు తెలిపారు.

మరొకవైపు, విపక్ష అభ్యర్థి జస్టిస్ బీ. సుదర్శన్ రెడ్డి కు కేవలం 324 మంది ఎంపీల మద్దతు మాత్రమే ఉండటం గణాంకాల ద్వారా స్పష్టమైంది.

న్యూఢిల్లీ: భారత ఉపరాష్ట్రపతి ఎన్నిక పోలింగ్ మంగళవారం ఉదయం పార్లమెంట్ హౌస్‌లో అధికారికంగా ప్రారంభమైంది. ప్రధాని నరేంద్ర మోడీ తొలి ఓటు వేశారు. పార్లమెంట్ ఉభయసభల సభ్యులు మరియు ఎంపీలతో కూడిన ఎలక్టోరల్ కాలేజ్ ద్వారా ఈ ఎన్నిక జరుగుతుంది. ఎంపీలు ఉదయం 10 గంటల నుండి సాయంత్రం 5 గంటల వరకు తమ ఓట్లను వినియోగించుకునే ఏర్పాట్లు చేశారు.

కౌంటింగ్ సాయంత్రం ఆరు గంటలకు ప్రారంభమవుతుంది. ఫలితాలు సాయంత్రం రాకముందే ప్రకటించబడే అవకాశం ఉంది. అధికార ఎన్డీయే నుంచి సీపీ రాధాకృష్ణన్ పోటీలో ఉన్నారు. భారతీయ కూటమి తరఫున బి. సుదర్శన్ రెడ్డి బరిలో ఉన్నాయి. ఈ ఎన్నికలో మొత్తం 770 మంది ఎంపీలు ఓటు హక్కును వినియోగించనున్నారు. మెజారిటీ కోసం 386 ఓట్లు అవసరం. అధికార ఎన్డీయే గెలవడానికి అవసరమైన మెజార్టీ పై దృష్టి సారించబడింది. బిఆర్ఎస్ ఈ ఎన్నికకు దూరంగా ఉంది.