New Delhi: The National Coalition for Women’s Reservation (NCWR), formed in April 2026, has stepped up its campaign across several states, demanding immediate implementation of the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, without linking it to the Census, delimitation or parliamentary seat expansion.
The coalition, which emerged after the Opposition defeated the Modi administration’s attempt to push the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, has outlined four key demands: deletion of references to seat expansion and delimitation, protection of federal rights by distributing the 33 per cent quota according to current state shares, inclusion of vulnerable and marginalised women such as OBC, denotified tribes, transgender and non-binary women, and adoption of a transparent and participatory process for identifying reserved constituencies.
On June 15, a closed-door strategy meeting in Delhi brought together around 50 representatives of women’s organisations, academics, activists, opposition leaders and MPs. Congress leaders Supriya Shrinate and Ragini Nayak, Samajwadi Party MP Jehangir Khan, Mahila Congress head Alka Lamba, AIDWA president PK Shreemathi, NFIW president Syeda Hameed and others participated.
The group also met DMK MP P Wilson, who has introduced a Private Members’ Bill in the Rajya Sabha seeking to delete references to the Census and delimitation. The coalition has sought appointments with 15–20 MPs ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
On June 25, Bengaluru hosted a consultation with women’s organisations, academics and civil society groups. Participants expressed concern that linking reservations to the Census and delimitation had delayed women’s political representation despite the law’s enactment.
The meeting resolved to launch statewide outreach, signature campaigns, public demonstrations and advocacy against measures that could disenfranchise women and marginalised communities. Delegations also met Congress leaders, including BK Hariprasad and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who assured support.
On June 21, a consultation in Prayagraj saw women’s groups and civil society endorse the NCWR memorandum. Delegations later met Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, both of whom assured support. The campaign message emphasised: “Women seek rights, not charity.”
On June 27, Hyderabad hosted a meeting of around 100 participants, including feminist networks, secular parties, trade unions, student groups and transgender organisations. Speakers stressed that women had waited decades for representation and demanded immediate implementation of the law.
The consultation endorsed NCWR’s demands and resolved to engage political leaders, expand outreach and strengthen participation in the nationwide campaign.
In July, Prof Kusumam Joseph and members of the Equal Representation Movement met Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and the Deputy Speaker of the Kerala Assembly. Satheesan assured support for the coalition’s four demands.
In Assam, delegations met Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi and Mahila Congress president Mira Borthakur Goswami, who promised to forward the proposals to the Congress leadership. In Maharashtra, the Stree Mukti Parishad held meetings and sent the memorandum to the Opposition party heads.
According to coalition figures, seven state consultations have already been held in Delhi, Prayagraj, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Assam, Kerala, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. The memorandum outlining the coalition’s four demands has been translated into three languages to widen accessibility.
The campaign has drawn over 500 endorsements from groups and individuals, while more than 100 organisations have actively engaged with the initiative. In addition, coalition representatives have held 12 meetings with political leaders, including MPs, MLAs and party chiefs, to build consensus ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
