Patna: Samrat Choudhary has accused opposition parties of “insulting” women by failing to support the proposed Women’s Reservation Bill, escalating political tensions in the state ahead of a confidence vote later this month.
Speaking at a press conference in Patna, Choudhary said parties including the Indian National Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal had “collectively betrayed women” by not backing the legislation. The bill, championed by prime minister Narendra Modi, seeks to expand political representation for women.
“The opposition must answer when an ordinary woman will get the opportunity to become a Member of Parliament,” Choudhary said, adding that parties resisting the bill would be held accountable by voters.
He also criticised the RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, claiming his party had historically opposed reservation policies, and suggested the Congress had failed to demonstrate consistent support for women’s representation.
Choudhary argued that the bill would significantly increase the number of women in elected office, noting that the Bihar Legislative Assembly currently has only 29 female members. He contrasted this with local governance, where Bihar’s 50% reservation for women in panchayats has resulted in women holding nearly 59% of positions.
Earlier in the day, the chief minister met members of the public during a “Janata Darbar” at his official residence and was scheduled to inspect the Bapu Tower before travelling to Deoghar with his family for religious observances.
The remarks come as Bihar prepares for a special one-day session of the assembly on April 24, during which Choudhary will face a motion of confidence — his first floor test since taking office. The outcome is expected to determine the stability of the current government ahead of the monsoon session in July.
