Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai moved a formal resolution for 33 percent women’s reservation in assemblies following a marathon eight-hour debate marked by fierce opposition.

RAIPUR, May 1, 2026 — Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai moved a formal government resolution for women’s empowerment in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly on Thursday, sparking a chaotic eight-hour confrontation between the treasury and opposition benches. The resolution demands a mandatory one-third reservation for women in all legislative assemblies across the country. It’s a move the Chief Minister claims will cement gender parity in the halls of power, but the session quickly devolved into a shouting match over the actual timeline of implementation.

BJP MLA Lata Usendi opened the floor by accusing the opposition of consistently obstructing the progress of female representation. She didn’t mince words, claiming that the Congress party has historically acted as a barrier to the Women’s Reservation Bill. But the opposition wasn’t about to let that narrative sit. Leader of the Opposition, Dr Charan Das Mahant, fired back, describing the BJP’s approach as rooted in a “patriarchal and Manuvadi” mindset that fears true equality.

The numbers tell a story of deep-seated political anxiety.

Dr Mahant argued that if 33 percent reservation were applied to a hypothetical 850 seats, women would occupy roughly 280 spots, leaving 570 for men. He claimed this shift is exactly what the current government fears. “If the intention was pure, why wait for a census that hasn’t happened yet?” he asked the floor. It’s a point of contention that has followed this legislation since it first appeared on the national stage.

Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Rajwade insisted the government is working with a firm resolve to complete the process as quickly as possible. She told the assembly that the opposition simply can’t handle the fact that the BJP is delivering on a promise they failed to keep for decades. Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao joined the fray, pivoting the attack toward the Congress party’s financial promises. He questioned how the opposition could talk about women’s rights when they haven’t fulfilled their own manifesto pledges, specifically citing the promised 500-rupee payments to women.

Congress MLA Anila Bhendia didn’t hold back, labelling the resolution a “political rattle” designed to distract voters before upcoming polls. She noted that while the bill was passed in 2023, it hasn’t actually been implemented on the ground. They’ve seen the headlines, but they haven’t seen the seats.

The debate, which lasted over eight hours, saw the house divided not on the merit of reservation, but on the mechanics of its delivery.

Government officials maintained that the census and delimitation exercises are necessary legal precursors to the reservation’s rollout. The opposition maintains these are just excuses to kick the can down the road. Amidst the heckling and procedural points of order, the resolution eventually moved forward, marking a significant, if contentious, moment in the state’s legislative history.

The struggle for the podium ended with a vote, but the political war over who truly champions women’s rights in Chhattisgarh is far from over.