Women’s reservation, political representation and delimitation took centre stage at the Mumbai edition of NewsX’s special programme, We Women Want, where women leaders from different political parties engaged in a lively debate over women’s participation in Indian politics. The panel featured advocate and social activist Abha Singh, BJP senior leader Shweta Shalini, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) spokesperson Shaina NC, and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Sana Malik.
The discussion was moderated by NewsX Editorial Director Priya Sehgal. The discussion began with the Gen Z protests and the role of young people in a democracy. Shaina NC questioned attempts to use protests for political publicity, arguing that allegations must be supported by concrete evidence. Sana Malik, however, said that questioning the government and institutions was a democratic right and that dialogue was essential to resolving disagreements.
Turning to women’s reservation, Abha Singh questioned the decision to link its implementation with delimitation. She argued that if political parties were genuinely committed to increasing women’s representation, they could find a way to provide greater opportunities without making women wait for another lengthy process. Singh also raised concerns about the possible impact of delimitation on the balance of representation between northern and southern states. She maintained that the issue of women’s political participation should not become entangled in broader political disagreements.
She also called for greater transparency in electoral processes, saying that institutions should respond to questions with facts and evidence. Transparency and accountability, she argued, are essential to a healthy democracy. Shaina NC highlighted the low representation of women in Parliament and state legislatures, arguing that women must have a meaningful role in political decision-making rather than being confined to symbolic positions. Sana Malik also called for greater opportunities for women within political parties. She pointed to the need for stronger representation in legislative bodies and said political organisations must take concrete steps to encourage women to contest elections and assume leadership roles.
