NDA claims majority to pass women's quota, delimitation bills in Monsoon session: Athawale

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said on Friday that the Women's Reservation Bill and the Delimitation Bill will be passed in the Monsoon session of Parliament. Speaking to journalists in Chennai, he stated that both bills, which could not be passed earlier, would now be cleared with a majority.

Athawale attributed the expected passage to the increased strength of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Parliament. He also noted that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) had exited the INDIA bloc, which he believed would facilitate the passage of the bills.

On the Delimitation Bill, Athawale said that delimitation is conducted after several years and is necessary because many constituencies have become large and densely populated. He dismissed concerns that Tamil Nadu's representation in Parliament would decrease after delimitation, calling such claims 'false propaganda' and asserting that representation would actually increase.

During his visit, Athawale also mentioned that he would meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to submit a list of demands from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, discuss atrocities against these communities, and advocate for granting five acres of land to landless families to help them escape poverty. He noted that state ministers V. Sampath Kumar and Vanni Arasu had already met him and submitted a list of demands.

Athawale is in Chennai to participate in the 'Social Justice Sangamam 2026' organised by the Republican Party of India.