Mumbai: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has confirmed that the 2029 general elections will be conducted under the framework of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which mandates one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.
In an interview with The Times of India, Shah said, “The 2029 elections will be held with women’s reservation.” This marks a significant step in implementing the Women’s Reservation Bill, which was passed in Parliament in September 2023 with the goal of enhancing women’s participation in the lawmaking process.
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam seeks to reserve 33% of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women, a long-standing demand that had previously faced multiple legislative hurdles across decades of debate.
Balancing Delimitation Concerns
Shah also addressed growing concerns about delimitation, the redrawing of constituency boundaries based on population changes. Southern states have expressed apprehension that their representation might be diluted in favour of more populous northern states. Responding to this, Shah assured that the government would strike a balance that ensures fairness across regions.
“No one will have any reason to complain when the exercise is conducted. We will establish a very good balance, and no one will be dissatisfied,” Shah said, dismissing the concerns raised by the DMK as politically motivated in light of the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections. “Delimitation is not going to happen by then, and they know this,” he added.
A Milestone for Gender Equality
The confirmation of women’s reservation for 2029 marks a historic moment in Indian politics. The implementation of the bill is expected to significantly alter the country’s political landscape by providing greater space for women in legislative decision-making.
While the bill was passed in 2023, its implementation is contingent on the completion of the next census and delimitation exercise, expected post-2026. Shah’s statement now gives clarity on the timeline and sets the stage for structural reforms in the electoral process.
Political analysts believe that the move could have far-reaching consequences, not just for gender representation, but also for regional power dynamics once the delimitation process begins.
What Comes Next
With the Women’s Reservation Bill now on a clear path to implementation, the focus will turn to the procedural steps required before the 2029 general elections — primarily, the census and delimitation, both of which will determine how the reserved seats are allocated.
The Home Minister’s remarks are likely to trigger renewed debate across party lines, with many watching closely to see how the government balances the competing interests of equity, representation, and federal fairness.
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