Political Storm Over Women’s Reservation Bill: Mamata Banerjee Slams PM Modi Ahead of National Address

Kolkata, April 2026 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he would address the nation with “another web of lies.” Her remarks came just hours before the Prime Minister’s scheduled address to the country at 8:30 pm, where he is expected to speak on the controversial 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill related to women’s reservation.

Speaking at a public rally, Banerjee accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misleading the nation and using divisive tactics for political gain. “Today, Prime Minister Modi will once again address the country with another web of lies. Under BJP rule, those who once incited riots have now become leaders of the nation,” she said, intensifying the political confrontation between the ruling party and the विपक्ष.

The controversy stems from the failure of the Women’s Reservation Bill to pass in the Lok Sabha. The proposed amendment, which aims to reserve seats for women in Parliament and state assemblies, could not secure the required majority after the opposition ‘INDIA’ bloc refused to support provisions linked to the delimitation process. During the voting, 298 members supported the bill while 230 opposed it, falling short of the threshold required for passage.

Banerjee strongly criticized the bill, claiming that it was not genuinely intended to empower women but rather to serve as a political tool. “This is not a women’s bill. I have been fighting for women’s reservation since 1998. The Modi government has spread misinformation through the media. This bill has been introduced to divide the country—especially to weaken Bengal and other non-BJP states,” she asserted.

A key point of contention raised by Banerjee was the alleged plan by the BJP to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 850 through the delimitation exercise. According to her, this move is designed to provide the ruling party with an electoral advantage. “They know they cannot win a majority with 543 seats, so they are playing a game to expand it to 850. That is why, despite being busy with election campaigning, I ensured that all 21 of my MPs were present in Parliament,” she said.

Echoing similar sentiments, senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Bratya Basu also criticized Prime Minister Modi’s style of communication. He alleged that the Prime Minister prefers one-way communication rather than engaging in dialogue with the public or the press. “He only delivers monologues, not dialogues. In the last 15 years, he has not held a single press conference. People are no longer interested in what he thinks or says. This has now become evident to everyone,” Basu remarked.

Despite the bill’s failure in the Lok Sabha, the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023 remains part of the legal framework. However, its implementation is contingent upon future census data and the completion of the delimitation process. The government has indicated that the reservation for women could come into effect from the 2029 general elections, but opposition parties have raised concerns about the delay and the conditions attached to its rollout.

Amid the ongoing election campaign, Banerjee also accused the BJP of misusing central agencies such as the Income Tax (IT) Department to intimidate opposition leaders and disrupt their campaigns. She alleged that raids on TMC leaders and offices were politically motivated. “The BJP is sending agencies to threaten people. They are conducting raids on party offices. If they have the courage, they should fight me directly,” she challenged.

Addressing a rally in Panchla in Howrah district, Banerjee took a swipe at the BJP’s political standing, claiming that the party no longer holds real power. “They do not have a majority. They are in power with the support of others. Once their downfall begins, everything will collapse,” she said, predicting a decline in the party’s influence.

She further alleged that individuals from BJP-ruled states were being brought into West Bengal during the elections to exert pressure on the administration and target TMC workers. According to her, instructions were being given to arrest Trinamool agents and carry out raids without proper legal grounds. “They are saying, ‘arrest the agents, conduct raids.’ But I want to tell them—we know everything about them: their names, addresses, and where they work,” she warned.

Banerjee also referred to the recent Income Tax raids conducted on the residence and office of TMC candidate Debashis Kumar from Rasbehari. She described the action as a politically motivated attempt to hinder election campaigning. “My candidate was not allowed to campaign the entire day. Is this not illegal interference before elections?” she questioned.

Issuing a stern message to administrative officials, the Chief Minister urged them to remain neutral and not succumb to political pressure. “Do not become parrots of the BJP. Everyone in the administration must work impartially and without discrimination,” she said.

Banerjee also advised her party leaders and workers to stay alert and prepared for any disruptions during the election process. She instructed them to maintain backup teams of polling agents to ensure that voting is not affected under any circumstances.

Overall, the failure of the Women’s Reservation Bill to pass in the Lok Sabha has triggered a major political showdown between the ruling party and the opposition. While the central government continues to present the bill as a historic step toward women’s empowerment, opposition leaders view it as a strategic move aimed at altering the political balance through delimitation.

As Prime Minister Modi prepares to address the nation, the issue has already ignited intense debate across the political spectrum. The developments are likely to have far-reaching implications, particularly in the run-up to the 2029 general elections, where the question of women’s representation and electoral restructuring is expected to play a crucial role.