TMC Alleges Women's Quota Bill Disguises Electoral Delimitation Changes

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has strongly criticized the Indian government's recent amendments aimed at implementing the women's reservation Act, characterizing them as a deceptive maneuver to alter the country's electoral process and enforce constituency delimitation. During a special session of the Lok Sabha in New Delhi on April 16, 2026, TMC Member of Parliament Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar voiced significant apprehensions regarding the legislation. She argued that the hurried introduction of the Constitutional Amendment Bill serves ulterior motives rather than genuine gender empowerment. Dastidar further expressed concern that the proposed delimitation commission would operate in an authoritarian manner, drawing parallels to her party's view of the current Election Commission. While supporting the principle of women's reservation, the TMC demanded a higher quota of 50%, citing party supremo Mamata Banerjee’s track record of allocating over 33% of electoral seats to women. The opposition party contends that the current legislative push lacks transparency and aims to reshape political boundaries under the guise of social justice, sparking intense debate within the parliament regarding the timing and intent behind these constitutional changes.