Vote for me or my wife

Free Thinker *

Women’s reservation (one-third of seats) in Parliament and State Assemblies may be implemented in 2029 or 2034; that does not matter much; what matters most is that this Government led by Damodardas ji has made it possible. The Women's Reservation Bill was hanging for almost 30 years. No Government could pass it-excuses were many.

Though BJP and its allies don’t have a majority in the Upper House, forget about two-thirds, tried their luck. Amrit kal magic works. Nobody in Parliament could oppose the Bill except for 2 in the Lower House, that too in self-defense; because many have started asking for reservation within reservation. Reservation for SC/ST, we can understand, because the Bharat Constitution itself has envisaged it.

Now the feeling of insecurity has intruded into the minds of our male elected representatives, MLAs, etc. After the passing of the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament, they have now come out with a pragmatic approach “Vote for me or my wife.”

With some concern, they have started inquiring about the method of deciding the women’s seats. It is simple, just before the election it will be decided. A lottery kind of thing may be conducted either by the Election Commission or in PMO whichever is convenient. Just said it in a lighter vein; it is yet to be decided.

In fact, the enigma of this enactment is about the rotation of reserved seats. The Bill contemplates that rotation shall take place after each subsequent exercise of delimitation as the Parliament may by law determine. Rotating one-third of seats before every Parliamentary or State Assembly election could be exhilarating. Let the lawmakers find a way out soon.

Now, in a particular Constituency, the political significance of an elected husband and his wife becomes equally important- for maintaining status quo– if the reservation is being invoked in their Constituency.

Those who do not have spouses may try a daughter, a niece, or any female member of the family. The critical part is if the legislator has more than one wife – this aspect has not been addressed fully. However, there is a silver lining if the elected representative has his spouses in separate Constituencies-conflict of interest may not arise.

An unfortunate situation may crop up in the future if a Monk MLA having no wife or female relative or kin – what will happen to his Constituency – if it comes under women's reservation ? The seat will go to some lady with whom the present incumbent has no blood link. Such a situation may trigger instability in the Constituency.

The entire women population is happy that finally the Women’s Reservation Bill has been passed by the Bharat Parliament, that too in the new Parliament House. Damodardas ji has increased the quota percentage very moderately – from 33% to 33.3%. Anyway for the time being we all are happy that women will at least have one-third seats in the Lower House of Parliament and in the State Assemblies.

Our women population in the country is slightly less than 50 percent. My only concern is that even in this Chandrayan era we still have not changed our attitude – we are unwilling to give 50 percent straight to women. We call ourselves a democratic country. Let’s be more democratic and more liberal. Women must get fifty percent of the total legislative seats.

The Government of 2024, can again bring an amendment giving nearly 50 percent reservation to women on the basis of the 2021 census – which is likely to be completed by 2025-26. Only Damodardas ji can do it. Others will have serious reservations because of their patriarchal mindset, family compulsions, and commitments to kith and kin.

In a TV discussion, one promising young politician Laishram Boby rightly maintains that women empowerment cannot take place until and unless their husbands and in-laws support them; it is not that women themselves do not want to come to the fore; but the non-endorsement from the husband and the father/mother in-law makes things difficult.

It is rare that a husband and his family enthusiastically support a lady to be in politics.

What she is emphasizing is that for the political empowerment of women, support, and encouragement from the family are extremely necessary. In most of the cases, women are being discouraged.

At this juncture, the main query from the MLAs and MPs is when the law is likely to be implemented.

The legislation contemplates that the provisions relating to the reservation of seats for women in the House of People, the Legislative Assemblies shall come into effect after an exercise of delimitation is undertaken for this purpose after the relevant figures for the first Census taken after the commencement of the Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill 2023 have been published, and shall cease to have effect on the expiration of a period of 15 years from the date of such commencement.

They may not compre- hend it; so, in common parlance, it can be assured that implementation of this law will take some more time.

Best wishes to our ladies – now they can perform better – I mean in politics.