India, April 12 -- The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a whip to its parliamentarians, directing their presence from April 16-18 for the special Parliament sitting to fast-track the implementation of 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought the support of political parties for the quota implementation.

The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed in 2023, but the reservation was to take effect only after a delimitation exercise and the ongoing census. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the introduction of two bills during the special sitting for the quota implementation before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and the setting up of a delimitation commission...