The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Arunachal Pradesh unit on Sunday, April 19, criticised opposition parties for the failure of the 33 per cent Women’s Reservation Bill to pass in Parliament, stating that the development reflects a setback to efforts aimed at enhancing women’s representation in governance.

Addressing a press conference at the party’s state headquarters in Itanagar, senior BJP leaders, including Dasanglu Pul, Likha Nari Tadar, Nabam Yahi Tad and Taying Shakuntala, expressed concern over the Bill’s inability to secure the constitutionally mandated two-thirds majority.

The BJP leaders stated that parliamentary proceedings held on April 16 and 17, which included deliberations on the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, the Delimitation Bill, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, presented an opportunity to advance women’s participation in legislative bodies. They alleged that opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress, Samajwadi Party, All India Trinamool Congress and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, opposed key legislative measures, resulting in the Bill’s failure.

Speaking at the briefing, Dasanglu Pul described the development as both a legislative and political setback, stating that broader consensus in Parliament could have enabled the passage of the measure. BJP leaders characterised the opposition’s stance as inconsistent with efforts to promote gender inclusion in policymaking and legislative processes.

The party also reiterated its position that women’s participation in governance is integral to democratic functioning. Referring to the leadership of Narendra Modi, BJP representatives stated that the government has prioritised women’s empowerment and sought to expand their role in decision-making institutions.

The leaders further cited remarks made by Amit Shah during parliamentary discussions, noting that concerns raised regarding delimitation were addressed, with assurances that the process would aim to ensure balanced representation across states.

Commenting on the debate, BJP representatives also opposed proposals related to religion-based reservation within the framework of the Bill, stating that such suggestions could complicate the legislative process. They emphasised that delimitation remains a constitutional exercise linked to equitable representation and is relevant to the implementation of women’s reservation.

The party maintained that increased representation of women in Parliament and state assemblies would have wider social benefits, particularly in areas related to welfare and inclusive policymaking. Reaffirming its position, the BJP Arunachal Pradesh unit stated that it would continue to advocate for measures aimed at strengthening women’s participation in governance and democratic institutions.