On April 11, 2025, Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor met with a delegation from the Mahila Congress, expressing his party’s commitment to enhance opportunities for women following concerns raised over the proposed amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Tharoor shared his views via a post on X, stating that the Congress party remains firmly dedicated to women’s reservation.

I want to repeat that we are firmly committed to Women’s Reservation. In fact on my way in and out, I was approached by a delegation of @MahilaCongress colleagues expressing hope that their opportunities would soon be enhanced. I assured them that we stood with them all the way!… https://t.co/ON4PkP4R5O pic.twitter.com/T4TQzIseQv

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 11, 2026

The gathering comes amidst opposition to the bill that seeks to amend existing provisions related to women’s political representation. Tharoor assured the Mahila Congress members that their voices would be heard, reinforcing his support for initiatives that aim to improve political opportunities for women.

Congress Opposes Government’s Proposed Amendments

The Congress Working Committee (CWC), during a meeting held on April 10, 2025, voiced strong opposition to the proposed changes to the Women’s Reservation Bill. Although the party supports a 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, concerns have been raised regarding the approach taken by the current government. The amendments have been described as unilateral and lacking transparency, which has generated alarms among party leaders.

Tharoor noted that the CWC condemned the government’s efforts to fast-track the amendments without engaging in consultations with opposition parties. The party also highlighted the potential risks associated with the simultaneous delimitation exercise, suggesting that it could disrupt the democratic balance, particularly affecting states in the South and Northeast of India.

Leaders within the Congress emphasised that the government had initially decided to delay the implementation of these provisions until after the Census. They expressed scepticism about the timing of a ‘special session’ that seems to intend to leverage women’s reservation for political advantage in upcoming elections, particularly in view of the parliamentary elections scheduled for 2029.

Controversy Surrounds Internal Party Dynamics

Tharoor’s assurance to the Mahila Congress follows internal criticisms regarding the treatment of women representatives within the party. Tamil Nadu Mahila Congress President Hazeena Syed accused the party of neglecting women’s participation in ticket distribution for the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. This led to allegations of deception concerning the promised 33 per cent reservation.

In response to these allegations, the Mahila Congress acted by expelling Hazeena Syed from her position, accusing her of engaging in “anti-party” activities. The internal discord reflects deeper concerns regarding the party’s commitment to ensuring that women’s voices and needs are adequately represented within its ranks.

The Centre is reportedly moving forward with an amendment that could increase the Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816, designating at least 273 of these for women. This move is intended to address gender representation in Indian politics, in line with the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, which mandates 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, including reserved quotas for SC/ST women.

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