The Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly will convene a special session on Tuesday in Dehradun, where the state government is likely to move a censure motion against Opposition parties for allegedly "opposing" and "blocking" the Women's Reservation (Amendment) Bill in Parliament.
The session is expected to witness sharp exchanges between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Opposition, Congress, with both sides already stepping up their political attacks ahead of the proceedings.
The Congress has announced plans to gherao the Assembly, accusing the state government of using the special session for political mileage rather than constructive debate.
In the run-up to the session, both parties have held protests in the city, trading allegations over the handling of the Bill.
While the BJP has labelled the Congress as "anti-women", the Opposition has countered by accusing the government of politicising the issue of women's reservation for electoral gains.
Amid the escalating political confrontation, the BJP Mahila Morcha is also set to organise a "mashal" procession at around 6 p.m., registering its protest against the Opposition's stance on the legislation.
The Women's Reservation Bill, aimed at enhancing women's representation in legislatures, recently failed to pass in the Lok Sabha, triggering strong reactions across the political spectrum.
The BJP has since intensified its criticism of the Congress and its allies, alleging that they obstructed a measure designed to empower women.
The special Assembly session is expected to serve as a platform for legislators to discuss the implications of the Bill's defeat and reiterate the state government's position on women's empowerment.
The proposed legislation sought to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and also included provisions to expand the strength of the House. However, it failed to secure the constitutionally mandated two-thirds majority despite a prolonged debate.
In the final tally, the Bill received 298 votes in favour and 230 against, falling short of the required threshold for passage, leading to a sharp political divide between the ruling NDA and the Opposition INDIA bloc.
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