UP Dy CMs back women's torch rally amid Reservation Bill row
Synopsis
Two Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Ministers have publicly endorsed nationwide 'torch rallies' as women's anger over the stalled Women's Reservation Bill boils over. The Constitution Amendment Bill fell 54 votes short of the two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha, reigniting a political war between the BJP and the Opposition over who is truly blocking women's political representation.
Key Takeaways
Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak , both Deputy Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh , backed nationwide mashal (torch) rallies on Saturday over the Women's Reservation Bill stalemate.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill failed in the Lok Sabha , receiving 298 votes in favour against 230 opposed — short of the required 352-vote two-thirds majority.
Women BJP MLAs had earlier staged a protest inside the Vidhan Bhawan complex ahead of a special Uttar Pradesh Assembly session.
The Samajwadi Party alleged the BJP was exploiting the issue for political gain, while the BJP accused the SP and Congress of blocking women's representation.
The Opposition demands the Bill be implemented as passed in September 2023 , without being tied to delimitation.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Saturday, 3 May 2025, said a nationwide "torch rally" — or mashal rally — is underway, reflecting widespread women's anger over the stalled Women's Reservation Bill. The remarks came amid a sharpening political battle between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Opposition parties over the implementation of the landmark legislation.
What Keshav Prasad Maurya Said
"Today, a mashal rally will be seen, where women, representing half the population, are expressing their anger in different ways across the country. In Lucknow, the state capital as well, thousands of women are participating in large numbers," Maurya said. His remarks framed the rally as a spontaneous public expression of frustration rather than a party-organised event.
Brajesh Pathak Backs Women's Cause
Fellow Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak echoed the sentiment, squarely blaming the Opposition for the legislative deadlock. "We strongly support the anger of women regarding the continuous obstruction of the Mahila Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam by the Indian National Congress and Samajwadi Party," Pathak claimed. The government, he asserted, stands firmly with women's concerns on the issue.
Background: The Bill's Failed Passage
The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, which seeks to reserve one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women, failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lower House. Of the 528 members present during voting, 298 MPs voted in favour while 230 voted against — falling short of the 352-vote threshold needed for passage. The Bill had originally been passed in September 2023 as the Mahila Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.
Protests Inside Vidhan Bhawan
The torch rallies follow a protest staged earlier on Thursday by women BJP MLAs inside the Vidhan Bhawan complex in Lucknow, ahead of a one-day special session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. The MLAs criticised Opposition parties for allegedly blocking the Bill's implementation in the Lok Sabha. This comes amid the BJP's broader accusation that the Opposition is denying greater political representation to women for narrow electoral reasons.
Samajwadi Party Hits Back
The Samajwadi Party (SP) rejected the BJP's framing entirely. SP MLAs held a separate demonstration, alleging that the BJP was "misleading the public in the name of women's reservation for political gain." The Opposition has consistently argued that the reservation should be implemented in the form it was passed in September 2023, without being linked to delimitation — a condition they say is being used to indefinitely delay its effect.
With the Bill having failed in the Lok Sabha and both sides digging in, the Women's Reservation debate is set to remain a defining flashpoint in Uttar Pradesh politics ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Point of View
Suggesting the Bill's defeat was not simply an Opposition ambush. The real question — why the government chose to link the 2023-passed reservation law to delimitation, effectively deferring its impact by years — remains conspicuously absent from the BJP's messaging. The Samajwadi Party's counter-allegation of political theatre has traction precisely because that linkage was a government choice, not an Opposition demand.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Women's Reservation Bill or Mahila Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam?
The Mahila Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is a constitutional amendment that reserves one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women. It was originally passed in September 2023 but has not yet come into effect, as its implementation was linked to a future delimitation exercise.
Why did the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill fail in the Lok Sabha?
The Bill received 298 votes in favour and 230 against, out of 528 members present — falling short of the required two-thirds majority of 352 votes. Both Congress and Samajwadi Party opposed the version linked to delimitation.
What are the torch rallies being held across India?
The torch or mashal rallies are demonstrations being organised across India, reportedly reflecting women's anger over the stalled Women's Reservation Bill. UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya described them as women expressing their frustration in different ways, with thousands participating in Lucknow alone.
Why does the Opposition oppose the current form of the Women's Reservation Bill?
The Opposition, including the Congress and Samajwadi Party, argues that the reservation should be implemented immediately in the form passed in September 2023, without being tied to delimitation. They contend that linking it to delimitation — which may not occur for years — effectively delays women's representation indefinitely.
What happened at the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Bhawan protest?
Women BJP MLAs staged a protest inside the Vidhan Bhawan complex in Lucknow ahead of a one-day special UP Assembly session, criticising Opposition parties for allegedly blocking the Bill's passage in the Lok Sabha. Samajwadi Party MLAs held a counter-demonstration, accusing the BJP of using women's reservation as a political tool.
