Old photo. Used for indicative purpose only. CM Sukhu photo of day 1, Monsoon session 2023
‘Nari Shakti Vandan’ bill: HP Chief Minister invites lone BJP legislator for cabinet berth
Shimla, Sept 19
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has extended an open invitation to the sole BJP woman Member of the Assembly, Reena Kashyap, to join the Congress legislature party and secure a cabinet position following the passage of the women’s reservation (Nari Shakti Vandan) bill in the new Parliament.
During the monsoon session on Tuesday, Sukhu, in a statement prompted by the momentous occasion of the women’s reservation bill being approved, expressed his support for gender justice and emphasized the need for improved female representation in both the assembly and the government.
He pointed out that the Himachal Pradesh assembly currently has only one woman MLA, and in a light-hearted manner remarked that they respect women, and if Reena Kashyap chooses to align with us, we would gladly appoint her as a minister as soon as tomorrow. Sukhu lamented the absence of any women from the Congress party in the assembly, highlighting the deficiency in female representation in both the legislative body and the government.
Furthermore, Chief Minister Sukhu commended the Central Government for introducing a 33 percent reservation bill for women in both the Assemblies and Lok Sabha, which was tabled in the Rajya Sabha on this significant day. He congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed his belief that this move would bolster the influence of women in the political sphere.
UPA -II had initiated the bill in Rajya Sabha
Sukhu acknowledged the historical contributions made by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, who initiated the provision of 33 percent reservation for women in Panchayati institutions and successfully introduced the bill in the Rajya Sabha in 2010. He emphasized that the bill had been pending in the Rajya Sabha since then and noted that the recent proposal to grant 33 percent reservation to women in Assemblies and Lok Sabha had been discussed during a Congress working committee meeting in Hyderabad.
Leader of the Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur, also praised the ground-breaking development in the assembly, demonstrating bipartisan support for women’s representation in politics.
It is noteworthy that bill will be implemented in 2026.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
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