Mayawati Demands Sub-Quota for SC/ST/OBC Women in 33% Reservation Bill
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has welcomed the proposed legislation to implement 33% reservation for women in India's Lok Sabha and state assemblies, ahead of a special Parliament session scheduled for April 16, 2026. While supporting the bill, she reiterated her long-standing demand for a 'quota within quota' to ensure separate representation for women from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). Mayawati argued that without specific sub-reservations, marginalized women would remain excluded from general seats due to caste dynamics. Although the BSP consistently advocates for 50% reservation proportional to the female population, Mayawati urged all political parties to transcend partisan politics and support the current proposal. She criticized the Congress party for recently championing separate SC/ST reservations after ignoring the issue during their previous tenure in power. Emphasizing the legacy of B.R. Ambedkar, she called for the immediate implementation of the law to ensure dignity and security for women across all social sections, noting that oppression and discrimination continue unabated due to a lack of political will and policy clarity.
Wire timeline
Mayawati Demands Sub-Quota for SC/ST/OBC Women in 33% Reservation Bill
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has welcomed the proposed legislation to implement 33% reservation for women in India's Lok Sabha and state assemblies, ahead of a special Parliament session scheduled for April 16, 2026. While supporting the bill, she reiterated her long-standing demand for a 'quota within quota' to ensure separate representation for women from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). Mayawati argued that without specific sub-reservations, marginalized women would remain excluded from general seats due to caste dynamics. Although the BSP consistently advocates for 50% reservation proportional to the female population, Mayawati urged all political parties to transcend partisan politics and support the current proposal. She criticized the Congress party for recently championing separate SC/ST reservations after ignoring the issue during their previous tenure in power. Emphasizing the legacy of B.R. Ambedkar, she called for the immediate implementation of the law to ensure dignity and security for women across all social sections, noting that oppression and discrimination continue unabated due to a lack of political will and policy clarity.
indianexpress