Fadnavis launches signature campaign after women’s quota bill setback

Mumbai: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday announced a statewide campaign to gather more than 10 million signatures in support of the women’s reservation bill, escalating pressure after the proposed constitutional amendment failed to clear Parliament.

Calling the bill’s defeat a major setback for women’s political representation, Fadnavis said the signature drive would be used to mobilise public support and send a strong message to parties opposing the measure. He said the effort would continue until the legislation is passed and implemented in time for the 2029 elections.

The campaign will be backed by the ruling alliance in Maharashtra, with the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP planning outreach programmes across the state. A women-led march and public rally in Mumbai are also part of the mobilisation strategy.

Fadnavis accused opposition parties of blocking a reform aimed at expanding women’s representation in legislative bodies and said public pressure would force a rethink. He also defended the government’s approach to linking the proposal with broader electoral restructuring, arguing it was designed to avoid regional imbalance.

The announcement has also sparked political pushback, with opposition leaders challenging the chief minister’s claims and calling for a public debate on the bill and its provisions.

The controversy has turned the women’s quota issue into a fresh political flashpoint, with both sides preparing to take the debate beyond Parliament and into a wider public campaign.