'Why Now When Polls Are On?' TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar Demands 50% Women's Quota, Slams Delimitation
Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar says it's unfair to reduce seats in states that have effectively implemented population control measures in the name of delimitation.
Published : April 16, 2026 at 4:19 PM IST
New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MP from West Bengal's Barasat, Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, on Thursday demanded reservation of 50 percent of seats for women in the Parliament instead of 33 percent proposed in the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which has been taken up for discussion in the Lok Sabha.
Participating in the discussions in the Lower House, Dr Ghosh Dastidar said TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has already been fielding over 33 percent seats in Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha so the demand is for 50 percent. Currently, TMC has 41 percent women members in both the Houses, compared to BJP's 11 percent, she said.
Dr Ghosh Dastidar said this is a 'Chadmabeshi (in disguise) Bill' that is actually not for women empowerment but to undertake delimitation exercise. She said that Mamata Banerjee had demanded a law for women's empowerment at the same House way back in 1998. Currently, the Bengal government runs a host of schemes for women's empowerment like 'Kanyashree', 'Lakshmir Bandar' and 'Rupashree', she added.
Questioning the bill's timing that has been brought when elections are underway in many states, she said, "Our opposition towards the bill will be projected in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly election as TMC being anti-women. But in reality, our party already has more than 33 percent women, be it the Parliament or the Vidhan Sabha."
The TMC MP pointed out that the budget proceedings were conducted in two sessions but this bill was not taken up at that time. "The fact that the bill has been introduced during the poll season raises suspicion and concern behind its intent. It is hard to believe that a government, which remained silent to Manipuri women's torture, is now in such a rush to ensure women empowerment," she said.
"This bill for ensuring women empowerment is for undertaking delimitation exercise in disguise that you want to approve silently. This bill will destroy democracy and create a dangerous situation for the country," she said adding that it is unfair to reduce seats in states that have effectively implemented population control measures under the population-based seat redistribution system.
Dr Ghosh Dastidar also rued that the West Bengal Aparajita Women and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to strengthen punishments for rape is still awaiting the President's assent.
Countering the TMC MP's allegation, MoS Women Development Annapurna Devi said women don't get justice in Bengal and said that the state should first focus on the existing laws instead of bringing in a new one.
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