Karnataka's Deputy CM Urges Women to Gear Up for Upcoming Elections

Kalaburagi (Karnataka), March 9 (NationPress) Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has urged women to prepare for the forthcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, especially with the Women's Reservation Bill set to be enacted.

"The Women's Reservation Bill is anticipated to become operational by 2028. Get ready to run for office. In a democratic society, no one can hinder your progress," he stated on Saturday during an event celebrating International Women's Day.

"Women are represented at all levels, from panchayat to Parliament. Currently, there is a 50 percent reservation for women in panchayats; however, many men still dominate through female family members. This will change as women will be empowered to lead independently in the future," he added.

"The Congress government, spearheaded by Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister late Manmohan Singh, aimed to introduce the Women's Reservation Bill but faced obstacles. The bill has now been approved and will impact the upcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. We remain uncertain about the seats that will be affected by this new reservation," Shivakumar mentioned.

"Women play a crucial role in both our families and society. Numerous historical instances underscore their significance. Basavanna aptly referred to them as 'punya stree,'" he remarked.

"Women are excelling across various sectors. They possess the potential to govern the nation in the future. Indira Gandhi has already set an inspiring example. The Women's Reservation Bill is poised to bring about significant change in the near future," Shivakumar commented.

"Events celebrating Women's Day should be organized solely by women. Male officials should not participate in such events moving forward. I have come here to seek the blessings of the women of Kalyana Karnataka, even though a major event is taking place in Bengaluru," he added.

"Four out of five guarantees directly empower women. Our government is dedicated to enhancing women's economic standing," the Deputy Chief Minister stated.

Later, while inaugurating the Kalyana Patha project in Jewargi, which aims to develop approximately 1,150 km of roads across 38 rural Assembly constituencies in Kalyana Karnataka, Shivakumar noted, "The people of Kalyana Karnataka have strengthened us in both the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. We will honor this commitment by focusing on the region's development."

"Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and many others fought for our nation's independence. However, it was Mallikarjun Kharge who achieved economic independence for the people of Kalyana Karnataka. Both Kharge and Dharam Singh persuaded Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh to implement Article 371(J) for this region's development. When L.K. Advani claimed that granting special status to this region was impossible, Kharge made it a reality, marking a historic moment," he remarked.

"The Congress party has pledged to develop Kalyana Karnataka and allocates an additional Rs 5,000 crore annually in the state budget for the region's growth. In the budget presented on Friday, we have maintained this increased funding. Consequently, each constituency in this area is receiving nearly Rs 120 crore for development," he added.

"Today, although former Prime Minister late Manmohan Singh is no longer with us, during his tenure, Article 371(J) was enacted to grant special status to this region. We must remember the economic and social strength he infused into our country."

"When Sonia Gandhi had the chance to assume the role of Prime Minister, she declined, asserting that the country needed an economic expert and that Manmohan Singh should lead the nation. This decision led to the implementation of policies like the Right to Education and the Food Security Act. Therefore, we must always acknowledge his contributions," concluded Shivakumar.