Rajya Sabha member Medha Kulkarni expressed optimism that the Lok Sabha constituency in Pune will be designated for women following the delimitation process and changes to the Nari Shakti Vandan Act. On Tuesday, she indicated that she, along with other BJP officials from the area, would be interested in contesting the seat if the party provides them with the opportunity.
A special parliamentary session is scheduled from April 16 to 18 to deliberate on the amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Act. Kulkarni emphasized the importance of public involvement in this discussion, encouraging citizens who support the Act to express their backing by giving a missed call to the number 9667173333.
In 2023, the Lok Sabha approved the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, also known as the Women’s Reservation Act, which mandates that one-third of the seats in both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies be allocated to women. Kulkarni noted that the Act was passed with a two-thirds majority.
She pointed out that there has been a call for its implementation, which is why the special parliamentary session has been convened. Kulkarni highlighted that this Act aims to enhance the representation of women in legislative bodies at both the national and state levels.
The BJP MP referenced global examples of women’s representation, stating that Rwanda boasts 61 percent, Cuba 55 percent, and both Mexico and Australia have over 50 percent female representation in their respective parliaments. She stressed the necessity of strengthening women’s presence in elected offices, given their proven capabilities across various fields, including politics, space exploration, healthcare, and business.
Kulkarni also mentioned that the last delimitation took place in 2001, with the next one scheduled for 2026, which has postponed the execution of the Women Reservation Act despite its approval in 2023. She explained that delimitation is based on census data, and updated figures will be available following this year’s census. Consequently, the implementation of the Act for the Lok Sabha elections is anticipated in 2029, with state assembly elections following the delimitation. She concluded that the current period is ideal for the Act’s implementation.
