Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Fadnavis Challenges Rahul Gandhi Over Congress Women’s Reservation Stand
Devendra Fadnavis criticized Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party over women’s reservation in politics.
He asked why Priyanka Gandhi was not given a chance if Congress supports more opportunities for women.
Fadnavis said Congress supported a 2023 law promising 33% seats for women.
He also said that law included rules connected to delimitation.
Congress and other opposition parties said they support reservation for women.
However, they objected to connecting it with a constitutional amendment and delimitation.
Fadnavis called this position a double standard.
He said Rahul Gandhi would be responsible if the reservation is delayed.
The BJP says women should receive the 33% reservation by 2029.
Devendra Fadnavis questioned Rahul Gandhi’s support for women’s opportunities by asking why Priyanka Gandhi was not given a chance.
Fadnavis accused Congress of double standards on the 2023 law proposing 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies.
He said the law included provisions linked to delimitation, which Congress had supported while voting for it.
Congress and other opposition parties said they support women’s reservation but object to linking it with a constitutional amendment for delimitation.
Fadnavis blamed Rahul Gandhi for any delay and said the BJP would seek to deliver 33% reservation by 2029.
- Who
- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, the Congress, and the BJP.
- What
- Fadnavis criticized Rahul Gandhi and Congress over their position on the women’s reservation law and delimitation.
- When
- The remarks were made days after Rahul Gandhi’s “Smash the patriarchy” social-media post, during the BJP state executive committee meeting.
- Where
- The remarks were made in Pune, Maharashtra.
- Why
- Fadnavis sought to portray Congress’s support for women’s reservation as inconsistent because the party supported the 2023 law but objected to its delimitation provisions.
Congress and Opposition Parties
Fadnavis and the BJP
Support for women’s reservation
Congress and Opposition Parties
Congress and most opposition parties said they support reservation for women.
Fadnavis and the BJP
Fadnavis said Congress’s actions showed it was secretly opposing or delaying women’s reservation.
Delimitation conditions
Congress and Opposition Parties
Congress objected to tying women’s reservation to a constitutional amendment and delimitation provisions.
Fadnavis and the BJP
Fadnavis said Congress had already supported the 2023 law despite its delimitation provisions.
Responsibility for delay
Congress and Opposition Parties
The opposition blocked the government’s package because of objections to its structure, while maintaining support for reservation.
Fadnavis and the BJP
Fadnavis said Rahul Gandhi would be responsible if implementation was delayed and promised that the BJP would deliver 33% reservation by 2029.
- Speaker
- Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra’s chief minister
- Reservation proposal
- 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies
- Relevant legislation
- A women’s reservation law introduced in 2023
- Congress position
- Congress said it supports women’s reservation but objects to linking it with a constitutional amendment for delimitation
- Fadnavis’s accusation
- He accused Congress of double standards and called Rahul Gandhi the “killer” of women’s reservation
- Target year cited
- Fadnavis said the BJP would ensure 33% reservation by 2029
- Parliamentary development
- The government’s push for the amended bill was blocked by a united opposition during the second half of the budget session