6 days ago
Annie Raja Urges Keralam Assembly Action on Women’s Reservation Law
Annie Raja wants the Keralam Assembly to support women’s reservation in legislatures.
A 2023 law promises women 33 percent of seats in Parliament’s lower house and state assemblies.
However, the law is linked to a future census and changes to electoral boundaries.
Raja says these conditions should be removed so the reservation can begin sooner.
Her organisation gave Chief Minister V D Satheesan a memorandum on May 25.
She says the government promised action but had not acted after 100 days.
Raja also criticised the UDF government for not addressing the issue.
She said a separate disagreement between the CPI and CPI(M) should be handled by the parties rather than through public statements.
CPI leader Annie Raja urged Chief Minister V D Satheesan to seek a Keralam Assembly resolution on implementing the 2023 Women’s Reservation Act.
The law provides 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.
Raja said census and delimitation conditions should be removed so the reservation can take effect immediately.
She said the National Federation of Indian Women submitted a memorandum on May 25, but no action followed Satheesan’s assurance within 100 days.
Raja also criticised the UDF government and said the CPI–CPI(M) dispute over the Deputy Leader of the Opposition post should be resolved through party discussions.
- Who
- CPI leader Annie Raja, the National Federation of Indian Women, Chief Minister V D Satheesan, and the Keralam government.
- What
- Raja urged the Keralam Assembly to pass a resolution requesting immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act and removal of its census and delimitation conditions.
- Where
- Raja spoke to reporters in New Delhi about action by the Keralam Assembly in Thiruvananthapuram.
- When
- Raja made the appeal on Thursday; she referred to a memorandum submitted on May 25 and the 100 days since Satheesan’s assurance.
- Why
- She said the resolution could press the Centre to implement women’s 33 per cent legislative reservation immediately.
Raja and CPI Position
Government and Party-Process Perspective
Timing of women’s reservation
Raja and CPI Position
Annie Raja and the NFIW want the census and delimitation conditions removed so the 33 per cent reservation can be implemented immediately.
Government and Party-Process Perspective
The reported account does not include a substantive response from the UDF government on removing the conditions or beginning implementation.
Keralam Assembly resolution
Raja and CPI Position
Raja wants the Assembly to follow Tamil Nadu’s example by passing a resolution and sending it to the Centre.
Government and Party-Process Perspective
Raja said the new UDF government had not spoken on the issue or acted on its reported assurance within 100 days.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition dispute
Raja and CPI Position
Raja said the CPI has a clear position and that public discussion of the issue diverts attention from pressing issues facing the UDF government.
Government and Party-Process Perspective
Raja also said the matter is public but should be resolved through discussions among the CPI and CPI(M) state and central leaderships and within the LDF.
Key facts
- Reservation share
- The law provides 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.
- Law referenced
- The Women’s Reservation Act was passed by Parliament in 2023.
- Conditions cited
- Implementation is linked to a census and delimitation.
- Memorandum
- The National Federation of Indian Women submitted a memorandum to V D Satheesan on May 25.
- Tamil Nadu action
- The Tamil Nadu Assembly has passed a resolution on the issue and sent it to the Centre.
- Raja’s criticism
- Raja said the UDF government had not spoken on the matter after 100 days in power.
- Separate dispute
- The CPI and CPI(M) are discussing the Deputy Leader of the Opposition position within their state and central leaderships and the LDF.
Quotes
Annie Raja
Senior CPI leader and National Federation of Indian Women representative
“If the opposition leader made such a statement, as you mentioned, he himself should clarify it. The party's stand is clear: this matter is under the active consideration of the state and central leaderships of both parties, and it will be discussed and resolved at that level.”
deccanchronicle.com
“Following Tamil Nadu's lead, we request that at least now, a similar resolution be passed in the state Assembly and sent to the Centre, and that the Congress and the Congress-led UDF government stand with the political empowerment of women.”
deccanchronicle.com
theprint.in
Sources
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