Fadnavis Hits Out at Congress Over Women's Reservation, Asks Why Priyanka Wasn't Given a Chance

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has launched a sharp attack on the Congress party over its stance on women's reservation, questioning the party's commitment to women's representation and targeting Rahul Gandhi directly.

Speaking at the BJP state executive committee meeting in Pune, Fadnavis pointed to Priyanka Gandhi, who serves as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and is the Member of Parliament from Kerala's Wayanad. He asked why she was not given a chance, implying the party's leadership does not practice what it preaches.

Fadnavis accused the Congress of double standards, noting that the party had voted in favour of the 2023 law that provides 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies. He questioned whether the party was aware that the legislation contained provisions linked to delimitation when it supported it.

The Chief Minister further alleged that Rahul Gandhi secretly opposes women's reservation and would be responsible for any delay in its implementation. He asked whether women would get their 33 per cent reservation by 2029 if the bill was not passed, and called Rahul Gandhi the "killer" of women's reservation. He asserted that the BJP would ensure the quota is implemented by 2029.

These remarks come amid the Congress's renewed outreach to women and students ahead of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. The government's push for the amended women's reservation bill was blocked by a united opposition during the second half of the budget session. While most opposition parties, including the Congress, said they support reservation for women, they objected to linking it with a constitutional amendment for delimitation, which was part of a three-bill package presented in Parliament.

The government did not attempt to push the women's reservation bill in the recently concluded monsoon session.