Political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla today called on the government to ensure that the proposed Women’s Reservation Bill benefits grassroots women rather than being cornered by families of established politicians.
He argued that the purpose of the legislation should be to empower ordinary women to enter Parliament and raise issues affecting their constituencies, rather than enabling “nepo-daughters”, spouses, or relatives of political leaders to occupy reserved seats.
Suggestions ahead of Parliament session
With the government planning to introduce the Bill through a constitutional amendment in an upcoming special session of Parliament, Poonawalla outlined two key recommendations.
First, he stressed the need for legal safeguards to prevent misuse of reserved seats by those with political lineage or connections. He said the intent of the reservation must remain aligned with giving representation to the “Aam Mahila”.
Secondly, Poonawalla highlighted concerns around parliamentary functioning, especially in light of the proposed increase in Lok Sabha strength, which could rise to between 750 and 825 members.
He suggested mandating a minimum number of working days for Parliament and called for stricter attendance rules. According to him, at least 80 per cent attendance should be made compulsory for all MPs, including the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, with penalties such as suspension for repeated non-compliance.
In addition, he proposed that Members of Parliament be required to submit a minimum of ten written questions related to their constituencies. Failure to meet such benchmarks, he said, should result in the withdrawal of certain perks and privileges.
Emphasising public accountability, Poonawalla noted that Parliament is funded by taxpayers and that elected representatives must be answerable to the people.