Mumbai, April 20 (NationPress) The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) asserted on Monday that the failure of a constitutional amendment bill regarding delimitation in the Lok Sabha, which was introduced under the pretense of women's reservation, revealed the government's "deceptive tactics". In its mouthpiece 'Saamana', the Thackeray faction criticized the administration for relying on its "Modi hai to mumkin hai" (Modi makes it possible) slogan, which they claim was an "alleged attempt to garner votes through defection or absence, ultimately proving ineffective".

The editorial highlighted that after the bill's failure, Prime Minister Modi engaged in a 'theatrical' display during a national address, which was deemed inappropriate as it appeared to insult the opposition. Modi’s address coincided with active Assembly elections in five states, which the editorial described as a clear breach of the Model Code of Conduct. While the BJP celebrated the enactment of the Women’s Reservation Act in 2023, the ongoing deadlock arises from the government's refusal to implement the 33 percent quota within the existing framework of 543 seats. Opposition figures have labeled the government's position as blatant hypocrisy and a national affliction of falsehood, the editorial stated.

According to the piece, the bill suggested expanding the Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 850, a move seen not as a step towards women's rights but as a "protective shield" aimed at ensuring enduring power by disproportionately allocating seats to northern Hindi-belt states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. This proposal faced vehement opposition from Southern India, with Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister warning of significant protests, drawing comparisons to the linguistic agitations of the 1950s and 60s.

“Statistical analysis reveals disparities. Under the suggested 50 percent seat increase, Tamil Nadu's representation would rise from 39 to 59, while Uttar Pradesh's would soar from 80 to 120. This would exacerbate the disparity between the two states from 41 to 61 seats, leading to allegations that the Prime Minister is instigating a 'North vs South' divide,” the editorial contended.

Furthermore, it pointed out a "culture of male dominance" within the BJP and RSS, implying that women are valued merely for their votes. The editorial also contrasted the current government's actions with the historic role of the Congress party, which appointed women such as Annie Besant and Sarojini Naidu as presidents over a century ago and was responsible for producing India’s first female Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. Despite the rhetoric, the current President notably did not receive an invitation to the inaugurations of the new Parliament building or the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena underscored the disparity between elite political maneuvering and the stark realities faced by women in India. In remote tribal areas of Maharashtra, pregnant women still struggle for basic healthcare, often compelled to give birth in makeshift slings as they are transported to distant medical facilities.

Drawing a parallel to 1970, when Indira Gandhi dissolved the Lok Sabha after a one-vote defeat on a constitutional amendment to seek a fresh mandate, the opposition suggests that Prime Minister Modi should consider a similar course of action. "If the government genuinely cared about women's issues, the Prime Minister would resign and allow a capable woman to take charge," stated the editorial.

As the BJP organizes protests over the failure of women's reservation, critics maintain that the defeat of the 2026 Delimitation Bill was a significant victory for Indian democracy.