Uttarakhand Special Session Today: BJP Eyes Censure Motion Over Women's Quota Bill
Synopsis
The Uttarakhand Assembly convened a rare special session on April 28 to move a censure motion against Congress for allegedly blocking the Women's Reservation Bill — which failed 298-230 in the Lok Sabha — as BJP and Congress clash on the streets of Dehradun.
Key Takeaways
The Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly held a special session on Tuesday, April 28 , in Dehradun .
The BJP-led state government is reportedly set to move a censure motion against the Opposition for obstructing the Women's Reservation Bill.
The Women's Reservation (Amendment) Bill failed in the Lok Sabha with 298 votes in favour and 230 against , short of the two-thirds majority required.
The Bill sought 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures.
Congress announced a gherao of the Assembly , accusing the BJP of politicising the issue for electoral gains.
The BJP Mahila Morcha organised a mashal procession at 6 p.m. in Dehradun to protest the Opposition's stance.
The Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly convened a special session on Tuesday, April 28, in Dehradun, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government is reportedly set to move a censure motion against Opposition parties for allegedly obstructing the Women's Reservation (Amendment) Bill in Parliament. The session comes days after the landmark legislation — which sought 33% reservation for women in legislatures — failed to secure the constitutionally mandated two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha.
The political temperature in Dehradun has been running high ahead of the proceedings, with both the ruling BJP and the principal Opposition party, Congress, stepping up their attacks and mobilising supporters on the streets.
Key Developments Ahead of the Session
The Congress announced plans to gherao the Uttarakhand Assembly, accusing the state government of exploiting the special session for political mileage rather than meaningful legislative debate. Both parties held separate protests in the city in the run-up to the session, trading sharp allegations over the handling of the Bill.
Notably, the BJP Mahila Morcha also organised a
Point of View
Yet each defeat spawns more political theatre than introspection. The BJP's censure motion strategy is shrewd — it keeps the Congress on the defensive — but it also risks trivialising a constitutional reform that millions of Indian women have waited generations for. Mainstream coverage misses the irony: the loudest champions of women's reservation in state assemblies are often the same parties that have historically dragged their feet on fielding women candidates.
NationPress
3 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Uttarakhand Assembly hold a special session on April 28?
The Uttarakhand Assembly convened a special session on April 28 in Dehradun to move a censure motion against Opposition parties, primarily Congress, for allegedly obstructing the Women's Reservation (Amendment) Bill in Parliament. The BJP-led state government used the session to formally register its position on the Bill's defeat.
What happened to the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament?
The Women's Reservation (Amendment) Bill, which sought 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures, failed to pass in the Lok Sabha after receiving 298 votes in favour and 230 against — falling short of the constitutionally mandated two-thirds majority required for passage.
What is the Congress's response to the Uttarakhand special session?
Congress accused the BJP-led Uttarakhand government of using the special session for political mileage rather than constructive legislative work. The party announced a gherao of the Assembly and countered BJP's 'anti-women' label by alleging the ruling party was politicising women's reservation for electoral gains.
What did the BJP Mahila Morcha do in Dehradun on April 28?
The BJP Mahila Morcha organised a mashal (torch-light) procession in Dehradun at approximately 6 p.m. on April 28 to protest the Opposition's stance on the Women's Reservation Bill and to demonstrate support for the legislation.
Has a Women's Reservation Bill failed in India before?
Yes, attempts to pass women's reservation legislation in India's Parliament date back to the 1990s and 2000s, all of which stalled due to political disagreements. The latest defeat continues a long-standing pattern of deferred reform on women's political representation in India.
