TDP MP Byreddy Shabari supports Women’s Reservation Bill, cites long-standing commitment

Vijayawada: The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a key partner in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), supported the Women's Reservation Bill. Participating in the debate on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam on Thursday, TDP MP Byreddy Shabari said that the legislation was in line with the party's long-standing position on increasing women's representation in governance.Shabari said the TDP's approach to women's political participation began with party founder N T Rama Rao, who introduced 9% reservation for women in local bodies in the 1980s. She said party president N Chandrababu Naidu later raised the quota to 33% in local bodies to strengthen women's participation at the grassroots level.Referring to the party's initiatives, Shabari said the TDP took steps such as granting daughters equal rights in ancestral property and setting up Sri Padmavati Mahila University. Supporting the Bill, she said the legislation would enable higher representation of women in legislative institutions. The women's self-help groups in Andhra Pradesh were highly successful and created lakhs of women entrepreneurs.The TDP MP also targeted the former YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) govt, questioning its credibility on women's empowerment. She alleged that during the previous five-year rule, women leaders, party workers and family members of political leaders were subjected to abusive social media campaigns.Shabari alleged that objectionable content with morphed images and derogatory remarks was circulated against women, including the chief minister's wife, the deputy chief minister's minor daughters and home minister Anita. She alleged that a cluster of social media handles linked to close associates of the former chief minister was involved in coordinated harassment. Failure to act against such content undermined the YSRCP's position on the Bill, she said.