Bankura, WB, Apr 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of “betraying” women by blocking the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which sought 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies. Speaking at a rally in Bishnupur, he warned that women voters would punish the ruling party in the upcoming West Bengal assembly polls.
Modi alleged that Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, in collusion with Congress, thwarted the bill due to its opposition to women’s empowerment. “We have seen how the TMC betrayed women in Parliament… The BJP’s identity is tied to women’s empowerment, safety, and security,” he said, adding that women across India bless BJP for this stance.
The bill, defeated in Lok Sabha two days prior with 298 votes in favor and 230 against (short of the 352 needed), aimed to implement reservation before 2029 via delimitation based on the 2011 Census.
Modi slammed TMC for “appeasement politics” while denying women representation, alleging it “breaks every law to benefit infiltrators” yet opposes empowerment. He also accused TMC and Congress of being “anti-tribal” for fielding a candidate against President Droupadi Murmu in presidential polls, calling their actions an insult to the Constitution.
Promising BJP governance, Modi pledged up to ₹1.5 lakh under PMAY for women’s home construction if voted to power. He declared the 2026 polls historic, where Bengalis would end TMC’s “bhoy” (fear) and endorse BJP’s “bharosa” (trust).
Warned TMC “goons” to surrender to police before May 4 results, Modi said none would be spared post-polls.
