'Grave consequences': Kharge says Centre's women quota move violates poll code

NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge connected Friday claimed that the Narendra Modi-led government's projected determination to amend the women's preservation instrumentality and grow the fig of parliamentary seats could interruption the Model Code of Conduct and person "grave consequences".

He besides asserted that the absorption volition determination unitedly connected this.Addressing a gathering of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Kharge said the contented required deeper consultation and that the absorption would respond collectively. "Therefore, pursuing this meeting, we volition formulate a corporate strategy by holding discussions connected these issues with our colleagues successful the absorption arsenic well. We volition determination guardant unitedly," Kharge was quoted arsenic saying by quality bureau PTI.

The Congress main besides questioned the timing of the peculiar Parliament league scheduled from April 16 to 18, alleging it was aimed astatine governmental gain. "The Modi authorities is convening Parliament’s sittings with the sole volition of securing governmental vantage and is keen to walk the Constitutional Amendment Bill successful utmost haste," Kharge said.He noted that the projected amendments could importantly interaction India’s electoral strategy and truthful warranted "very heavy deliberation".

"Based connected the accusation we person received truthful far, the authorities wants to instrumentality women’s preservation starting from the 2029 elections ... it wants to summation the fig of seats successful the Lok Sabha from 543 to 816," Kharge said.Raising concerns implicit the delimitation exercise, helium added, "This delimitation connection volition person superior consequences. Therefore, determination is simply a request for precise heavy deliberation connected delimitation."

Kharge further alleged that the authorities had ignored the opposition’s petition to clasp an all-party gathering aft the decision of polling successful West Bengal. "This constitutes a usurpation of the Model Code of Conduct ... we harbour nary anticipation that [the Election Commission] volition adjacent instrumentality cognisance of these violations," helium said.The meeting, attended by elder leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, discussed the government’s connection connected women’s reservation, delimitation, and the broader governmental discourse up of upcoming elections.In a Facebook post, Rahul Gandhi said, "The Congress remains steadfastly committed to ensuring women’s empowerment and societal justice."The authorities is expected to present bills during the peculiar league to instrumentality the Women's Reservation Act earlier the 2029 wide elections and summation Lok Sabha seats, with a important stock reserved for women.