Women's Quota Takes Centrestage in Bengal As Voting Day Approaches

Updated: Apr 19, 2026 22:34 pm IST Published On Apr 19, 2026 22:31 pm IST Last Updated On Apr 19, 2026 22:34 pm IST

Published On Apr 19, 2026 22:31 pm IST

Last Updated On Apr 19, 2026 22:34 pm IST

As the West Bengal assembly election enters its decisive phase, the issue of women's reservation has emerged as a major political flashpoint, shaping both narrative and strategy on the ground.

The debate intensified after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused opposition parties, including the Congress, DMK, Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party of effectively committing foeticide by opposing what he described as a genuine constitutional effort to fast-track women's reservation in legislatures. He reiterated that his government remains committed to ensuring representation for women and positioned the quota push as a necessary democratic reform.

However, Mamata Banerjee has not taken a defensive stance. Instead, she has turned the issue into a counter-narrative. The Trinamool is actively highlighting that it has fielded one of the highest numbers of women candidates in the state, arguing that its commitment to........

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