Keshav Prasad Maurya Slams Opposition Over Women’s Reservation

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya accused the Congress and Samajwadi Party of opposing women’s reservation in Parliament and state assemblies, warning that both parties would face public anger in upcoming elections for their stance.

Speaking in Prayagraj on April 18, 2026, Maurya said the two opposition parties had made their position clear on the women’s quota bill, which seeks to reserve one-third of seats for women in legislative bodies. He claimed their opposition was not based on principle but on political calculation, and that voters would hold them accountable.

The Congress and Samajwadi Party have made it clear that they do not support women’s reservation in Parliament and state assemblies. They will face public anger in the polls for this anti-women stance.

Keshav Prasad Maurya, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh

Maurya’s remarks came amid renewed national debate over the women’s reservation bill, which has been passed by Parliament but remains pending implementation in state assemblies. The bill aims to reserve 33 percent of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women.

The Deputy Chief Minister framed the issue as a test of political commitment to gender equality, asserting that his government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, fully supports the measure. He contrasted the BJP’s position with what he described as the obstructive stance of the opposition.

He did not cite specific legislative actions or votes by the Congress or SP to substantiate his claim, nor did he reference any recent statements or proceedings from either party regarding the bill. His remarks were delivered in a public address in Prayagraj, where he was attending a party function.

The women’s reservation bill, officially known as the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, was passed by both houses of Parliament in September 2023 and received presidential assent. However, its implementation is contingent on the completion of the next delimitation exercise, which is expected after the 2026 Census.

Political analysts note that while the bill enjoys broad cross-party support in principle, opposition parties have occasionally raised concerns about its timing, methodology, or potential impact on existing social justice reservations. The Congress and SP have not issued unified public statements rejecting the bill outright in recent months, though individual leaders have expressed reservations about its sequencing.

Maurya’s comments reflect the BJP’s strategy of positioning itself as the champion of women’s political participation while casting opposition parties as resistant to reform. The Deputy Chief Minister has frequently used similar rhetoric in public appearances to highlight ideological contrasts ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

As of the date of his remarks, neither the Congress nor the Samajwadi Party had issued a direct public response to Maurya’s specific allegations. Both parties continue to affirm their support for women’s empowerment in general, though they have not detailed their position on the implementation timeline of the reservation bill.

The exchange underscores the growing politicization of gender representation in Indian politics, with parties using the women’s quota issue to signal their commitments to voters ahead of key electoral contests.