At an election campaign meeting in Salem, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said his party is not opposing women’s reservation, but is objecting to the constituency delimitation being tied to it.
Stalin said the DMK government is working for women’s rights and welfare, and rejected AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s claim that he dislikes the women’s quota. He pointed to the introduction of women’s reservation in local bodies under M. Karunanidhi and said his government implemented it at 50%.
He reiterated that the DMK has been demanding 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, and argued that the BJP could have enacted it earlier if it wanted. According to Stalin, the problem is the “knot” of delimitation being attached to the proposal, which he said could prevent it from being implemented.
Stalin urged Palaniswami to understand that no one is opposing women’s reservation, and said delimitation is the real issue. He also criticised Palaniswami for not speaking against the BJP, noting that voices of opposition are being raised in other States as well.
The public meeting, attended by DMDK general secretary Premalatha and MNM leader Kamal, was livestreamed on Dinamalar’s social media pages.
