Lokesh banter sparks debate on women’s reservation

Vijayawada: Though it was a light-hearted banter, the comments made by TDP national general secretary and IT minister Nara Lokesh at a wedding have sparked a debate on the proposed reservation for women in the assembly and the Lok Sabha and its likely impact.Lokesh was attending the wedding of TDP senior functionary and Ponnur MLA Dhulipalla Narendra's daughter Nagasai Vydeepthi. Wishing the newly wedded couple, Lokesh said, referring to Vydeepthi, to be ready for the next elections as women's reservation is going to be implemented. While the guests at the wedding party, including Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy, burst into laughter, Narendra replied in the same note as to how it is justified to target him.As the comments came at a time when the Union govt is planning to implement women reservations from 2029, the wedding, filled with people from political circles, started debating on the issue. Many see the comments as preparations by political parties to look for suitable women candidates for the next elections. As the assembly seats are also likely to increase by 50%, the share of women in the assembly will reach 87.As the increase of assembly and implementation of women reservations is almost certain, there is a need for more than four-fold increase in women candidates by the next elections. The NDA alliance partners gave tickets to 23 women candidates — 22 from TDP and one from Jana Sena — in the 2024 assembly elections, of which 21 were elected.Lokesh's comments also came a day after he addressed the cluster in-charges, describing the TDP as leaders producing factory. He said the TDP is now transforming into third generation and the TDP 3.0 will have more representation of youngsters who are committedly working for the party at the grassroots level.Another debate that his comments sparked was about political nepotism and likelihood of defeating the purpose of women reservations. Comments appeared on social media apprehending that nepo-kids will enter politics in the guise of women reservations while the actual control will be with the male politicians.