India, April 20 -- Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday announced a drive to collect over 10 million signatures from women in support of the 33% reservation for women in legislative bodies, calling April 17 "a black day for democracy". He said the opposition parties on April 17 betrayed women by defeating the Constitution amendment bill to expand the size of the Lok Sabha and fast-track the reservation.

Fadnavis vowed to build up such pressure from women on the Opposition that they would be compelled to support the bill. He added that Maharashtra's ruling alliance will not rest until the bill is passed to ensure women's reservation by 2029.

Fadnavis said Congress, Trinamool Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, National...