PM misleading the nation on the Delimitation Bill: Mamata Banerjee

April 19, 2026

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation, saying the PM misled the country on the Delimitation Bill.

TMC’s stand on women’s reservation clear

Through her X handle, Banerjee said her party, the Trinamool Congress, has always been in favor of greater representation for women in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

“It is extremely unfortunate that the Prime Minister chose to mislead the nation instead of addressing it honestly. I want to make it clear that the Trinamool Congress has always been in favor of women’s political representation. 37.9% of our MPs in the Lok Sabha are women, and we have nominated 46% women members in the Rajya Sabha. There is no question of opposing women’s reservation,” she said.

It is deeply unfortunate that the Prime Minister chose to mislead the nation rather than address it honestly.

Let me put this on record. Trinamool Congress has always championed higher political representation for women. We have the highest proportion of female elected…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 19, 2026

Opposition to delimitation, not women’s quota

A day after the central government failed to pass the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill and the Delimitation Bill, PM Modi addressed the nation and attacked the opposition. He alleged that the opposition had “aborted” the idea of ​​women’s representation.

Reacting to this, Banerjee said, “Our fundamental opposition is to the delimitation process, which the Modi government wants to push forward by using women as a shield for its political interests. This is an attempt to tamper with Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution, divide the country, and gain power by changing political boundaries.”

Called it an attack on the federal structure

The Chief Minister called it an attack on federal democracy and said that her party would not remain silent.

“If the government was serious about this issue, why did it wait almost three years after the Women’s Reservation Bill was passed on September 28, 2023? Why was it rushed through at the time of elections? And why was it linked to delimitation?” she questioned.

Banerjee also challenged the Prime Minister to address the nation from Parliament.

“The next time you address the nation, do so from the floor of Parliament, where accountability and questions are faced. What you did is an example of cowardice, hypocrisy, and double standards,” she said.