Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday criticised the All India Trinamool Congress, alleging that the party opposed the proposed 33% reservation for women in Parliament and worked with the Congress to stall its passage. Addressing a public rally in Bankura ahead of the state polls, Modi described the development as a setback for women in West Bengal and accused the ruling party of resisting greater political participation by women.

The Prime Minister said the Centre had pushed for implementation of the proposed quota from 2029 but claimed that the Trinamool did not want more women from the state entering legislative bodies. He argued that the BJP has consistently supported women’s empowerment and sought to expand their role in public life.

The Women’s Reservation Bill failed to pass in the Lok Sabha after the ruling alliance fell short of the mandatory two-thirds majority. While the NDA secured 298 votes in favour, 230 members opposed the legislation, preventing it from becoming law.

Modi also targeted the Trinamool over its alleged stance towards tribal communities, asserting that the BJP had enabled the country to elect its first tribal woman President, Droupadi Murmu. He accused opposition parties of previously resisting her candidature and criticised what he called disrespect shown to her during visits to West Bengal.

Responding to the criticism, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee defended her party’s record on women’s representation. She stated that the Trinamool has one of the highest proportions of women lawmakers in both Parliament and the state Assembly. In a social media post, she cited figures showing a significant percentage of her party’s MPs in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are women, rejecting the charge that her government sidelines female leadership.

The exchange marks an escalation in political rhetoric as West Bengal prepares for upcoming elections, with the issue of women’s political representation taking centre stage.