Tripura Assembly engages in intense debate on Women’s Parliamentary Representation

The Tripura Legislative Assembly’s special one-day session on Thursday turned into a significant forum on women’s representation in Parliament and state legislatures, with members across party lines voicing both support and skepticism over the path forward.

Government Chief Whip Kalyani Saha Roy moved a motion urging all political parties to build consensus for the implementation of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill — the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. The proposal called on the Centre to begin delimitation based on the 2011 Census and to ensure one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.

Congress MLA Gopal Chandra Roy backed the motion, highlighting his party’s historic role in empowering women at the grassroots. He recalled initiatives from the Rajiv Gandhi era that raised women’s representation in Panchayats to 50 percent, and stressed that updated census data is essential to guarantee fair representation for SC, ST, OBC, and minority communities. Roy cautioned against using delimitation for political advantage but affirmed that the Congress would not oppose the bill if inclusivity is safeguarded.

CPI(M) legislator Shyamal Chakraborty, however, questioned the intent behind the proposal, calling it politically motivated. He argued that women’s reservation already enjoys broad support and could be implemented swiftly with minor amendments to the 2023 legislation. Chakraborty criticized the ruling party for delaying implementation despite electoral promises, and pointed to the stark imbalance in central government employment, where women make up only about 11 percent of the workforce.

The debate revealed a broad consensus on the principle of women’s reservation but exposed divisions over its timing, the role of delimitation, and the government’s sincerity in pushing reforms. The session underscored both the urgency of expanding women’s political participation and the complexities of translating constitutional promises into reality.