BSP demands 50% women's reservation with sub-quotas for marginalised groups

Mayawati's BSP stands firm on women's political rights, refusing to let elite groups dominate. Will India's marginalised women finally get fair representation?

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2026 April 23 . 10:05 AM

1 min read

The image shows a black and white photo of a group of women, with one of them sitting in the... — The image shows a black and white photo of a group of women, with one of them sitting in the center. At the bottom of the image, there is some text which reads "The Women's Suffrage Movement". The women in the photo appear to be of different ages and ethnicities, suggesting that they are part of a larger group.

Lucknow, April 22:

BSP demands 50% women's reservation with sub-quotas for marginalised groups

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has reaffirmed its firm stance on women's reservation, with party chief Mayawati making it clear that there will be no compromise on the issue.

Addressing the ongoing debate, she stated that while the party supports reservation for women, it must include a separate quota for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.

Demand for sub-quota

Mayawati emphasised that without such a sub-quota, the real objective of empowering marginalised women would not be achieved. She reiterated that BSP has consistently advocated equitable representation and even demanded up to 50 per cent reservation for women in proportion to their population.

Independent political stance

The BSP chief also maintained that her party remains independent in its approach and is not aligned with either the ruling alliance or opposition blocs on this issue. She stressed that women's reservation should be implemented sincerely and not be used as a political tool.

Debate intensifies

Her remarks come amid intensified political debate over the Women's Reservation Bill, with multiple parties expressing differing views on its structure and implementation.

Focus on inclusive representation

By holding firm on its demand, BSP aims to position itself as a strong advocate for inclusive representation, particularly for women from socially and economically weaker sections.