Kathmandu— As a delegation from the Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP (SP)) prepares to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, the Indian National Congress has requested that they emphasize the INDIA bloc’s firm position: the Women's Reservation Act, passed in 2023, should be implemented without delay and not tied to a proposed delimitation exercise. The request comes during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament as opposition parties continue to debate the timing and method of implementing increased representation for women in government.

Opposition Unity on Key Issue

All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Sachin Sawant took to social media platform X on Sunday to urge the NCP (SP) delegation to advocate for immediate implementation during their meeting with Prime Minister Modi. He stressed the importance of maintaining a united front within the INDIA Alliance and clearly opposing any connection between women’s reservation and delimitation, which involves redrawing parliamentary constituencies based on population changes.

NCP (SP) Delegation Agenda

The scheduled meeting was announced by NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, who stated that eight MPs from her party would raise several concerns regarding Maharashtra with the Prime Minister. These issues include farmer suicides, water scarcity, and challenges stemming from rapid urbanization. While the primary focus of the delegation is regional concerns, the Congress hopes they will also deliver a clear message on women’s reservation.

BJP Welcomes Dialogue

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Navneet Rana expressed a positive view regarding the meeting between NCP (SP) MPs and Prime Minister Modi. She stated that any effort to address Maharashtra's development through dialogue with the Prime Minister should be welcomed, dismissing speculation about ulterior motives and emphasizing the potential benefits for the state.

Background of Proposed Legislation

The call for immediate implementation stems from a recent legislative attempt to increase the size of the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament) to 850 seats as part of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026. This bill was intended to facilitate the implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill passed in 2023, but it failed to achieve the necessary two-thirds majority vote in Parliament. The opposition supports women’s reservation but objects to linking it with delimitation.

The NCP (SP) delegation is expected to meet with Prime Minister Modi later today, and their message regarding the Women's Reservation Act will be closely watched by other members of the INDIA alliance.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.