Women’s reservation has become a hot topic in the country. Though the delimitation bill introduced to pave the way for its implementation was defeated in the Lok Sabha, the debate over women’s reservation continues.
On the first day of Mahanadu, TDP national working president Nara Lokesh announced that the Telugu Desam Party would allocate 33% of its tickets to women in the next elections, whether the reservation law is implemented or not. Several analysts are calling it a forward-looking move.
Now, there is another interesting twist. With Rajya Sabha seats set to be filled, there is talk that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has decided to allot one of the four seats from Andhra Pradesh to a woman.
Sources say Naidu is keen to send a strong message that the TDP gives importance to women even without waiting for the law to come into force. Through this move, he reportedly wants to show that the party respects women’s leadership more than just the legal compulsion of reservation.
At present, four Rajya Sabha seats from Andhra Pradesh are falling vacant, and the notification for filling these seats has already been issued.
Of these four seats, Jana Sena is reportedly keen on getting one seat as its share and entering the Rajya Sabha this time at any cost.
On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party is also trying to increase its representation in the Upper House and wants at least one seat from Andhra Pradesh.
If the TDP considers BJP’s demand too, it will be left with only two seats. Even then, Naidu is said to be determined to allot one seat to a woman to improve the party’s image and strengthen its women empowerment message.
Political circles say this could help the TDP project itself as a party that does not merely speak about women’s reservation, but also implements it in practice.
