Odisha BJP Stages Protests Over Women's Reservation Bill Stance

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Odisha has announced a series of agitation programs aimed at protesting the Congress and its allies' stance on women's reservation. A centerpiece of this series is a substantial rally of women, scheduled for April 22, which the party expects will draw over 50,000 participants.

These demonstrations are a reaction to the recent defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, intended to implement 33 percent reservation for women in legislative bodies, which failed to pass on April 17. BJP Mahila Morcha president Aishwarya Biswal stated that multiple protests will occur statewide from April 24 to April 29.

On the flip side, the Congress accuses the BJP of propagating misinformation and questions the party's commitment to women's empowerment. Meanwhile, former Congress spokesperson Mahima Singh criticized the BJP's motivations and demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over various grievances, further escalating the ongoing political controversy.