Modi pitches 33% reservation to win over women voters in West Bengal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (April 5, 2026) sought to woo women voters in West Bengal, stating that his party is committed to “real empowerment of women” through 33% reservation.

Addressing a public meeting in Cooch Behar, Mr. Modi said it is necessary to increase the role of women in decision-making for the country. “Therefore, the government has scheduled a special session of Parliament on April 16, 17, and 18. This right of our mothers and sisters has been pending for 40 years. Our government has enacted a law to provide 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies,” he said.

He added that ensuring reservations for women is the responsibility of all parties and urged them to cooperate on the issue.

Mr. Modi reiterated that the States which have done well in population control would not lose seats during delimitation. “From Cooch Behar, I once again assure all States that those which have done good work in population control will not face any loss in terms of seats. Everyone will benefit. Participation of all States and everyone’s rights will remain protected,” he said.

Mr. Modi said that the government wants to ensure in Parliament “that additional seats are created for women so that States can reap major benefits from it”. The reservation will be implemented from the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.

Women voters are crucial to the outcome of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the welfare schemes of her government, particularly the cash incentive programmes for women, have an influence over them. The BJP has been trying to win them over by raising issues of crimes against women, particularly by fielding the mother of the doctor who was raped and killed at R. G. Kar Hospital in August 2024.

The Prime Minister also referred to the alleged atrocities on women at Sandeshkhali and said, “On one side are the cries of sisters and daughters subjected to brutal atrocities, like those in Sandeshkhali. On the other side is Modi’s guarantee of security, dignity and empowerment for women.”

Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose accused the saffron party of hypocrisy on women’s issues. “Shri @narendramodi is speaking about the Women’s Reservation Bill and ‘nari shakti’. Modi insults women leaders; he has insulted Bengal CM @MamataOfficial with his ‘Didi oh didi’ taunts, @BJP4India has garlanded those convicted of rape and given tickets to those accused of sexual assault. @BJP4India and Modi are anti-woman to the core; their hypocrisy on women’s representation is glaring,” she said in a social media post.

West Bengal will go to polls in two phases on April 23 and 29, with the counting scheduled on May 4.

“Maha jungleraj”

Highlighting the gherao of seven judicial officers in Malda’s Mothabari on April 1, Mr. Modi described the incident as a reflection of “Trinamool Congress-sponsored maha jungleraj”.  

He said the Trinamool government does not give much importance to any constitutional institution, and the Malda incident was a reflection of that. “The law-abiding citizens were shocked by the way judicial officials were held hostage. What kind of a government is this, where even judges are not safe? How can you expect the safety of common people from such a government... The situation is so bad that the highest court of the country had to intervene,” Mr. Modi said.

The judicial officers engaged in the adjudication process under the SIR were later rescued by security personnel after several hours. Thirty-five persons have been arrested in connection with the incident, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the probe.  

The prime accused, Moffakerul Islam, had contested the 2021 Assembly polls from Itahar as a candidate of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). He has also been arrested.