As the Budget Session of Parliament nears its conclusion, fresh reports suggest that the Modi government is planning a high-stakes special session in mid-April to pass the long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju hinted in the Rajya Sabha that a special session could be convened within the next 2-3 weeks, with dates like April 16 to 18 being actively discussed within the government circles.

The opposition, led by Congress, has voiced strong reservations against the timing of this session. Senior leader Jairam Ramesh and LoP Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the move is a tactical ploy to gain electoral mileage ahead of the upcoming polls. “We are not against women’s reservation; we were the first to propose it. But calling a special session now is purely for electoral gains. If the government was sincere, they could have introduced the bill in the current session,” Kharge remarked.

Refuting the charges, Rijiju maintained that safeguarding women’s rights is the government’s top priority, independent of the election cycle. As the deadlock continues, the possibility of a special session in mid-April has set the political stage on fire, with both sides gearing up for a major legislative battle.