The Indian government has extended the Budget session of Parliament and will reconvene on April 16 for three days to discuss amendments to the Women’s Reservation Act. This legislation aims to reserve 33% of Lok Sabha seats for women, with plans to increase the total number of seats from 543 to 816. The proposal has drawn strong criticism from the Opposition, particularly the Congress party, which argues that the timing of the amendments is politically motivated, coinciding with the Assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Congress leaders have expressed concerns that the proposed changes may disadvantage smaller states, particularly in the South, as the distribution of seats could favor larger states like Uttar Pradesh. Despite the backlash, the government maintains that the amendments are a commitment to women's representation and should not be viewed through a political lens. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju emphasized the importance of fulfilling this commitment, while Opposition leaders called for an all-party meeting to discuss the amendments after the elections. The debate highlights the tension between the government's legislative agenda and the political landscape as elections approach.