Kharge flags ‘grave consequences’, calls govt’s women quota move violation of poll code

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on April 10 said the Centre’s proposed move to amend the women’s reservation law and expand parliamentary seats could violate the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and have “grave consequences.”

Speaking at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Kharge alleged that the Narendra Modi-led government was attempting to push through significant electoral changes during an active election period, which he described as a violation of established norms.

Kharge said the government’s plan involves amendments to implement women’s reservation and a proposed increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats. He claimed such steps could have a “profound impact” on the country’s electoral system and therefore require detailed discussion rather than expedited passage.

He further alleged that the government intends to convene a special session of Parliament between April 16 and 18 with the aim of passing a Constitutional Amendment Bill “in utmost haste” to secure political advantage ahead of ongoing elections.

According to Kharge, the proposed changes include increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to 816 seats, along with a proportional expansion in state assemblies. He said such a delimitation exercise would have “serious consequences” and must be debated thoroughly.

The Congress leader also criticised the timing of the parliamentary session, noting that many Members of Parliament are currently engaged in election campaigning. He said this could limit meaningful participation and debate on a significant constitutional amendment.

Kharge alleged that opposition parties had requested the government to hold an all-party meeting after the completion of polling, but their suggestions were not accepted. He said the opposition would now work together to formulate a collective response to the proposed changes.

At the CWC meeting, Kharge emphasised that the Congress supports women’s reservation in principle but opposed what he described as the government’s “politically motivated” approach to implementing it.

He also questioned the lack of formal communication from the government on the details of the proposal, stating that much of the information available so far has come through public statements rather than official consultation.

The Congress Working Committee, the party’s highest decision-making body, met to deliberate on the issue and outline its strategy. Several senior leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were present at the meeting.