Why Mayawati is pushing for ‘quota within quota’ in proposed 33% women’s reservation

She also reiterated her party’s demand for 50% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies: “BSP has consistently demanded 50% reservation for women in proportion to their population, but we support the current proposal as well.”

The BSP is not a part of the Opposition INDIA bloc and Mayawati has consistently announced that her party would stay “equidistant” from both the Opposition and ruling BJP-led NDA.

To be sure, the BSP chief has made similar statements on the topic in the past.

In 2023, while welcoming the BJP government’s move to table the Women’s Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha, she had said that even if 50% seats are reserved for women, she and her party would back it. “… I have said this in Parliament several times that our party wants women to get reservation in Parliament and state Assemblies. Instead of giving 33% reservation, if 50% reservation is given to women based on their population, then we will welcome that too. The government should consider this,” Mayawati had said.

She had also said women belonging to SC/ST and OBC categories should be given reservation. “… Otherwise, it will be unfair to people from these categories. And if this is not done, then women belonging to these categories will not get an opportunity in these general seats. Because casteist parties don’t want these sections from society to get ahead,” she had added.

Mayawati, however, had added that even if her demands are not met, her party would still support the Bill and “do everything to get it passed”.

On Wednesday, she said while discussions on women’s empowerment are frequent, proper implementation (of policies) has been hindered by lack of policy clarity and political will. As a result, she noted, incidents of oppression, caste-based discrimination and exploitation against women, particularly from weaker sections, continue unabated.

Targeting the Congress, she said: “Congress ko ab SC/ST ke liye alag arakshan ki baat kyon yaad aa rahi hai, jab apni sarkar mein is maang ko nazarandaz kiya gaya tha (Why is the Congress now remembering the demand for separate reservation for SC/STs when it ignored it during its time in power).”

Invoking B R Ambedkar, Mayawati said, “He gave women equal rights and laid a strong foundation for their empowerment.”

“Women’s reservation should be implemented at the earliest, keeping it free from partisan politics,” she said, stressing that it must ensure dignity, security and upliftment of women across sections.