Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Friday, 28 August said the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Act is actively under consideration, with the government aiming to operationalise the landmark women's reservation law before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Meghwal made the remarks in Jaipur, signalling renewed political urgency around a legislation that has been on the books since 2023 but remains unimplemented.

What Meghwal Said

'The issue of the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill is very much under consideration. We had also made an effort regarding it during the Budget Session because we should go into the 2029 elections with the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill implemented. What will we tell half the population of this country if the law has been passed by Parliament but is not being implemented?' the minister said.

He added: 'The focus now is on its implementation. The matter of implementation is on. The process is on.' The remarks are among the most direct public acknowledgements by a senior government figure that the 2029 electoral calendar is shaping the timeline for implementation.

What the Law Provides

The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Act, 2023 — commonly known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Act — reserves one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies for women. Crucially, its implementation is contingent on the completion of delimitation, which in turn awaits the next Census — a process whose timeline remains uncertain.

This structural dependency has drawn criticism from opposition parties, who argue that the government passed the law without a concrete roadmap for when it would actually take effect.

Rajasthan Local Body Polls and BJP Confidence

Meghwal also addressed the upcoming local body elections in Rajasthan, expressing confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prospects. He cited alignment between the Centre and the state government as a key advantage for voters.

'There is tremendous enthusiasm among the public in favour of the BJP. The public wants that if the local government is also formed by the BJP, harmony will be maintained, coordination will remain, and our development works will increase and happen faster,' he said, also referencing the performance of Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.

Congress Pushes for Special Session on Delimitation

The minister's remarks came a day after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking whether the government planned to convene a special session of Parliament to pass a proposed delimitation Bill. Kharge, who also serves as Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, reiterated his demand for an all-party meeting on the matter.

Kharge's letter was reportedly prompted by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju's indication in a television interview that a special session could be convened. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had separately raised concerns over why the Lok Sabha had not been prorogued after being adjourned sine die, questioning the government's intentions on the proposed constitutional amendment on delimitation.

What Comes Next

The path to implementing the Nari Shakti Vandan Act runs through two prerequisites — a fresh Census and subsequent delimitation of constituencies — neither of which has a confirmed schedule. With the 2029 general elections now a visible horizon, political pressure on both sides is likely to intensify. Whether a special session materialises and what form any delimitation legislation takes will be closely watched by women's rights groups, opposition parties, and voters alike.