Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], May 1 (ANI): Olympian sprinter Dutee Chand has called for stronger support and greater representation of women in politics, stating that they remain underrepresented in legislatures despite advancements in other sectors.

In an interview with ANI, Chand referenced a special session of the Odisha Assembly that focused on women’s reservation and underscored the importance of increasing women’s participation in political decision-making.

“A special session of the Odisha Assembly was held on women’s reservation… Women should get support in every field. Women are progressing in every field today, but in politics, women do not get the support they should get,” she remarked.

Chand also pointed out the insufficient representation of women in elected bodies, including the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

“The number of women in the Lok Sabha and the Assembly is less,” she noted.

The Odisha Legislative Assembly conducted a one-day special session on April 30 to deliberate on women’s participation in Indian democracy.

This discussion follows the Opposition parties in the Lok Sabha voting against the Constitution Amendment Bill on April 17.

The Lok Sabha addressed the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-first Amendment) Bill, the Delimitation Bill, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill collectively for approval. During the division on the Constitution Amendment Bill post-debate, 298 members voted in favor while 230 opposed.

Following the failure of the Constitutional Amendment Bill, the NDA criticized the Opposition parties for obstructing one-third reservation for women legislators. In Odisha, the BJP accused a BJD-Congress alliance of thwarting the proposed legislation. The BJP has organized Jan Akrosh Padyatras across several states to condemn the Opposition parties. (ANI)