Haveri, April 23: Senior BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress on Thursday, alleging that Karnataka's interests on women's reservation and constituency delimitation have been deliberately sacrificed to appease the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Speaking at a press conference in Haveri, Bommai urged Siddaramaiah to consult policy experts, reconsider his position, and persuade the Congress high command to back what he called a once-in-a-generation democratic reform.

Karnataka's Historic Role in Women's Reservation

Bommai was categorical in rejecting Siddaramaiah's claim that Congress pioneered women's reservation in India. He pointed out that Karnataka was among the earliest states to introduce such a policy — a milestone achieved under the tenure of the late Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde, who simultaneously championed decentralisation of power.

The reservation framework was further strengthened in 1993 under H.D. Deve Gowda, and nationally codified through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment in 1994 under the P.V. Narasimha Rao-led Union government, which mandated reservations for women in local bodies across the country.

Bommai also invoked the legacy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, noting that the architect of the Indian Constitution had himself advocated for women's representation in legislatures while introducing the Hindu Code Bill — a historical fact that undercuts any singular claim of credit by the Congress.

The 2023 Amendment and the Delimitation Fault Line

At the heart of the current controversy is the 2023 constitutional amendment passed by the Union government, which provides 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies, alongside a proposal to increase Lok Sabha and Assembly seats by 50 per cent. The implementation is linked to the completion of the next Census and a fresh delimitation exercise.

Bommai warned that this linkage is precisely where southern states like Karnataka face a structural disadvantage. A delimitation based on post-Census population data would likely benefit states with higher population growth — predominantly in the north — at the expense of southern states that have performed better on family planning and demographic management.

He argued that the original delimitation freeze based on the 1971 Census — put in place during the Emergency era — had already penalised southern states for decades. Repeating that model with fresh population-based delimitation, he cautioned, would compound historical injustice.

Karnataka's Seat Count: The Numbers at Stake

Bommai presented a specific counter-proposal: if delimitation follows a proportional approach rather than a strict population-based formula, Karnataka's Lok Sabha seats could increase from the current 28 to 42. This figure, he argued, is both fair and achievable without disproportionately rewarding states that failed to control population growth.

He also flagged the constitutional mechanics involved — any such amendment requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament. Bommai noted that such a majority existed during Rajiv Gandhi's tenure but the opportunity was not utilised, calling it a missed chance that history should not repeat.

Congress-DMK Alliance Under the Microscope

The sharpest political charge from Bommai was directed at what he described as Congress's capitulation to DMK pressure. The DMK, a key ally of Congress in the INDIA bloc, has been vocal in opposing delimitation reforms it perceives as threatening Tamil Nadu's political influence in Parliament.

Critics, including Bommai, argue that by aligning with DMK's resistance, Congress has effectively chosen alliance arithmetic over the democratic rights of women and the legitimate interests of Karnataka. This contradiction — a party that claims to champion women's empowerment blocking a reform that would enhance female representation — is one that Bommai was keen to highlight before the electorate.

He urged Siddaramaiah to rise above coalition compulsions, build cross-party consensus, and support the amendment in the interest of both women's political representation and Karnataka's long-term future in national politics.

What Comes Next

The political battle over women's reservation and delimitation is expected to intensify as India approaches its next Census — delayed significantly from its scheduled 2021 timeline due to the pandemic. The outcome of the Census will directly determine the timeline for implementing the 2023 Women's Reservation Act. For Karnataka, the stakes are high: both in terms of women's representation and the state's seat count in a future, expanded Parliament. All eyes will now be on whether Siddaramaiah responds to Bommai's challenge or continues to align with the DMK's position.